Do not ever, ever, ever br ask an Englishman about the weather. br Believe you me, it’s a big mistake br that you should never ever make. br br For he’ll go on and on forever br until you think that you will never br get away from his mad tirade br about Fahrenheit and Centigrade. br br They learn it at their mothers’ knees: br it is the national disease br where they all seem quite possessed br by this strange climatic zest. br br They’ll talk and talk for simply hours br on the possibilities of showers br or the outside chance of freezing fog br should you want to walk the dog. br br Thunderstorms will get them going br and they really love it when it’s snowing. br Especially they find it pleasing br to prophesy a spell of freezing. br br They like their weather pretty dire br in places such as Staffordshire br and when it comes to wind and gale, br they play fine tunes on the Beaufort Scale. br br Most of all, they really get boring br explaining why it’ll soon be pouring, br and you’ll learn more than you want to know br of drizzle, rain and sleet and snow. br br So I will give you this advice: br “An Englishman can be very nice br but keep him off all talk of weather br or you’ll be stuck with him for ever.