Britons brace themselves for more floods

BRITISH PEOPLE are fond of talking about the weather. What they really enjoy, though, is grumbling about the rain. Fortunately, they have ample opportunity and a rich vocabulary, according to Alan Connor, author of a new book about rain in Britain. A heavy downpour can be “pissing, tipping, chucking or bucketing it down”. In the Midlands you might call it a “plothering”. Head to the West Country and you still hear “mizzle” (between mist and drizzle) and “letty” (just enough patter to make outdoor work trying).