That was one of the staple sentences of my German GCSE, alas, serving me well through to my AS as well. When the weather is bad, I go to the cinema. And you may also have noticed through past blog posts (and on my last blog The Lollipop House too), I digress about the weather. About 4 times, I have said to 4 different people today, "the weather's pretty awful isn't it?". Because after all, I am British. And after all, the British weather is pretty awful today. So going back to my little bit of German (which, I promise you, I will still be able to remember and use in 50 years' time), when the weather is bad, what do you do? Well I can tell you that I'm not in the cinema right now. Instead, I'm tapping away on my laptop because the past few weeks of bad (aka rainy) weather have given me inspiration for a new list. And it goes a bit like this...

Things to do when the weather is crap*:

1. Skype. If you're twiddling your thumbs at home because you just don’t want to go outside and socialise like a normal person, in reality every other normal person will also be sheltered at home. So, pick up the phone and make a call. Or, in this funky day and age, Skype. It’s nice to see faces.
2. Facebook. Because some things - no matter the weather - never change. 
3. Bake cupcakes. Doesn’t matter if you’re the most masculine man in the entire man world; got eggs, flour, sugar and a bowl in your cupboard? Man up, because it will taste like heaven.   
4. Clean! It is strangely satisfying. (Cooking, now cleaning? I know, but don’t get the “woman” stereotype out because I will not do your laundry.)
5. Go through your sock drawer and match them up.
6. Mud fight. Ever heard the phrase, “if you’ve got it, flaunt it”? You’ve got mud, so, erm, flaunt it?
7. Read a good book. By the fireplace. With a nice steaming cuppa in one hand and a good book in the other. Place the cuppa down whilst page-turning.
8. Click on this link and print it out, A4 colour. Stick it on your window and whip out your sunnies and an ice cream.
9. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to do. Like flower arrangement, bird watching, building a house out of a playing card pack...
10. Re-enact any scene from “Singing in the Rain”. Invite your neighbours to watch/join in/cheer you on.
11. Go for a walk in the rain. If you're brave. Embrace it. Even better, venture out without your umbrella. Just make sure you're prepared for The Cold of All Colds.
12. Watch either "Up", "Wall-E", "Finding Nemo" of "Toy Story 3" and blub about how good Disney Pixar is, and how much better than Dreamworks it is, and how they shouldn't make a Finding Nemo 2 or a Toy Story 4. 
13. Go through all your old photos (Facebook or otherwise) and play the "Ohhhh! I remember when....!". Cringing at old haircuts is allowed, and encouraged.
14. Make a scrapbook.
15. Actually get something productive done. Yes, actually working. 
16. Board games!
17. Get all the Lego dotted around the house from your Lego days - we've all been there so don't pretend otherwise - and make a giant Lego creature your 5 year old self would be proud of.
18. Make lists. "Things to do", "Things to do before you die", "Things to apologise for", "Things that make you smile", "Things to do when the weather is good", "Things to do when the weather is bad", "Things to do when the weather is crap".

Bev (and her best friend Mr Umbrella. We spend waay too much time together) x
Ps. This is me below right now.


 * "crap" is defined as miserable weather where your new shoes are destroyed by muddy puddles and your umbrella has already given up on you because it is tired of being used every day. 
** I am assuming that, like me, you are also skint riding the surf of the recession and cannot simply afford to venture into cinemas/museums/other rain-associated places every time the cloud greys up a bit.