29 ≥It’ll all blow over, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney
they complain about most. These clouds are known as ‘nimbostratus’. They are the thick, wet blankets that are universally unpopular – not even appreciated by a cloud lover like myself. But when these thick layers of rain cloud begin to break up, they can lead to some of the most dramatic and beautiful cloud formations of all. As they fi nally rain themselves out, they
tend to thin and fray into misty shreds and torn fi laments, which hang in the air, scattered at diff erent levels within the low atmosphere. Typically, the emerging shaſt s of soſt , low, winter sunlight illuminate this array of cloud fragments to glorious eff ect. I love skies like this all the more for the way they are teased out of the gloom. If you live in Great Britain, you should
embrace our wild and wet winter days. Spend your life wishing you were
somewhere with forever-blue skies and you will never be happy – at least, not until you up sticks to southern California. And who would want that? Not I. I’d miss the crash of the winter waves on the pebbled shore. That is what makes me smile. I’d miss the rousing pelt of hail against my back and the gentle swirling eddies of fog on a damp, chill morning. The answer to January is to appreciate all that is exhilarating, invigorating and fortifying about our winter weather. And to wrap up warm, for as that other very British saying goes, ‘There is no such thing as bad weather – only inappropriate clothing.’
cloudappreciationsociety.org
What makes Gavin smile? ‘When a member of The Cloud Appreciation Society sends in a photo of a cloud that looks like Father Christmas having a bad-hair day.’
WEATHERING THE STORMThe winter months make it even harder to get the natural light you need to fi ght the symptoms of Seasonal Aff ective Disorder. Head outside, however bracing the weather, to ward off lethargy, sleep problems, loss of libido, anxiety, irritability, depression and comfort eating.
SIGNS AND WONDERS Cows lie down when rain’s on the way – or so countryside folklore goes. But did you know that frogs croak louder and birds fl y higher when bad weather’s on the horizon? And, our favourite, ‘When sheep huddle, there’ll be a puddle.’
D-DAYS Low levels of vitamin D are associated with cancer, osteoporosis and MS, and we need strong, direct sunlight to produce the stuff . Boost your levels in the winter months by eating oily fi sh (Ocado oak smoked salmon) and eggs (Ocado free range). For belt and braces protection, add a vitamin D supplement.
> The Wavewatcher’s Companion (Bloomsbury, £8.99) by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of The Cloud Appreciation Society, is out now<
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