IT IS no wonder that British people talk about the weather constantly - given its antics recently, there has certainly been a lot to talk about.

One minute you are sweltering in beautiful, bright sunshine and the next you are completely drenched from head to foot because you were unexpectedly caught in one of those insane downpours.

One minute I was happy to have a washing out on the line, the next I was frantically scrambling to the garden to grab it all in before it ended up wetter than it was before I hung it out in the first place!

It is no wonder that we all over-prepare when heading out anywhere; in this country, it's only sensible to pack a swimsuit, flip-flops, sunglasses, shorts and a T-shirt in the same bag that also might contain a jumper, raincoat, jeans and Wellington boots. You just don't know what our climate is going to throw at you.

For the poor kids who were off school for the summer, the gloomy quality of much of the weather over the past few weeks has probably meant that they were generally confined indoors - possibly sending their parents / caretakers slightly bananas.

It’s such a shame that they weren’t able to enjoy long days of good weather, the sort of days where they could stay outside and come in in the evening absolutely filthy and happily exhausted – the sort of day we can all remember from our childhoods.

Our family can brave a bit of rain as much as the next person, but some of it was so heavy and violent that it would have seemed a bit silly to try and get out and enjoy it. I doubt we could have heard ourselves speak above its din!

My daughter and I saved our puddle splashing for after the main downpours and we did try to make the best of the weekend weather, indulging in some of our favourite things such as blackberry picking or heading out on a long walk, ending up enjoying what's on offer (including a café and sweet shop) in a local wool shop. A little bit of bribery in the form of the promise of a cake at the end works wonders.

And I did very much appreciate last week's spectacular and absolutely huge rainbow, which seemed to arc across the entire town, bestowing a red-golden glow on everything below it.

Thanks to the weather’s changeability, I am also very glad that this year of all years we were fortunate enough to spend two weeks in blazing sunshine in Spain.

It is any wonder that people in such areas are supposedly healthier and happier; they can stroll out each summer morning generally confident in a beautiful day, thinking, 'oh, I might fancy a lovely salad for my evening meal'.

We have been so chilly on occasion - not really cold, but feeling the need to pop a blanket over our feet - that we have had (ahem) no option but to stuff ourselves with carbs and fat.

That’s my excuse – and I’m sticking to it.