Artem Mozgovoy
Wherever you are in the world, every country has its pros, its cons, and those ambiguous factors that don’t quite fit into either category. For me, as someone who has been living in the United Kingdom for almost four years, that factor has been the weather.
Because the country is surrounded by the sea, the wind is often fast and strong, which naturally contributes to the overcast skies and overall greyness. This is where the stereotype of the gloomy “Foggy Albion” comes from. However, this kind of weather isn’t constant—and every now and then, we are blessed with what feels like an eighth wonder of the world: the sun.
Recently, on Wednesday the 8th, London was illuminated by incredibly warm weather that lasted the entire day, reaching as high as 25 degrees, with not a single gloomy cloud in the sky. The houses on Baker Street were glowing, and the trees in Regent’s Park looked three times greener and more vibrant than usual. People, surprisingly, seemed much more cheerful and positive.
While walking through the park with a friend, we came across a small birthday gathering. Right before our eyes, one of the guys invited another girl to join them — she had been sitting alone nearby, quietly scribbling something in her notebook.
In that moment, I realized that the rarity of sunny days in the UK helps me appreciate the simple things: a cup of coffee, sunlight hitting my face, and the absence of wind that usually knocks you off your feet.
Though in a way, even that wind serves as a reminder — that sometimes, you need to give in to the world a little, and not stand completely still. Even if it feels comfortable. Even if it feels “normal”.
Main photo by Rohan Gangopadhyay
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