well the winter weather continues in the same vain as it started...nothing impressive to be seen and to be honest this winter was always forcast to be avg by those with no commercial interest in ensuring the dramatic headlines or indeed any reference to wintry weather in the forcast, the irony here is in my opinion its been the forums themselves that have ogten created hype around winter weather for reasons unknown, and until the either the latitude of of the UK changes or the gulf stream has a change we are stuck in a fairly benign weather patternm bar the odd the one in a while blip in favour of cold. it is what it is, be grateful we have food ont the table and a warm environment in which to view the weather and read from our ipdads / tablets / latops whatever....many around the world have no such luxury>

The coldest day of this winter so far in Coventry has been 6.1c that is really incredible .

True and many have also lost that due to the endless rain which has caused flooding

I guess we can derive some comfort knowing that we are all in the same boat . . . as so to speak.

This winter is getting beyond a joke.  I am a grower of many alpine plants and my alpine troughs and raised beds are looking extremely sad and soggy. I feel that I will lose many plants this winter due to the incessant wet and lack of cold. The crocus have come up early but are not opening due to the lack of sun and the flowers are rotting on the stems!!

There seems to have been no period since December when we have had a run of more than two dry days? We've hardly seen the sun either and frosts have been rare???

I think parts of the south east are running at nearly 200% of average winter rainfall so far? What the hell is going on? It seems the one kind of weather these islands receive in abundance is wind and rain. Is the strong atlantic down to the fact that the USA is experiencing record cold and snow? What has caused the jet stream to be out of position? Wish I understood all these factors!!

'Abysmal' sums up our winter 2013/14. Even if you are a mild weather lover, surely you can't be happy with all this rain? I mean, how much frickin' rain does one small island need in a winter?

Good shout!! We are currently planning our move to the Dordogne  Sick of the shite that masquerades as a climate in these god forsaken Islands!!

Andy, I'm with you on that! I have friends in the western Algarve that I visit as often as I can, this month has been dry and sunny with day temperatures 14-19 C, quite typical of January, in fact the Algarve is said to be the sunniest location in Europe with over 3000 hours of annual sunshine. OK, winter temperatures are not quite as high as the Canary Islands but friends are already eating out on their sunny patio. Each year I'm tempted more and more to move there and stop wasting my life looking for frost and snow!

This winter has been a shocker for rain wind and gloom which has followed a sunny Edinburgh Autumn.....I think there will be an active TWO overseas group soon!

Have accidently stumbled across this on the interwebs . . .

You need to update your MWI - with the frost the other morning, it might have nudged up to 3...

Don't wait, just do it. I live in a place with a med summer climate and a warm winter BUT I have the option of driving within a day to the snowy mountains so snow is there if I want it.

I like the control of this. I hate snow after the first day it has fallen and gets all shitty. Much happier these days visiting the snow for a fun holiday once a year for a week and then that is it, rest of the year beach and pool 

We have a winter holiday booked for New Zealand in early July.

There are already a couple of us on here in Australia, Sydney and Perth is represented.

At least we live in a part of the world which is normally green in winter - prolonged snow cover being a rare exception.

Spare a thought for the poor Alaskans where it's more like June than January ......

http://www.adn.com/2014/01/28/3296179/record-warmth-and-confused-plants.html

And as for living somewhere where you can drive to the hills to see snow.  Lots and lots of snow.  Try Britain .....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-25912321

..... and stop moaning!

Ah but on the same weekend could you go skiing in Scotland and then swimming at a beach on the coast in warm sun? 

The UK is very beautiful of course, every country has something to offer.

I still think the best climate in the world is around New England. Predominantly dryish & warm summers; cold & often snowy winters. Proper seasons.

Yes.  In April and sometimes May and June!  And what's more, you don't need worry about being eaten by a crocodile .....

Yes, stop moaning in a moaning thread!.....

Where I live, I have lots of lovely scenery within an hour's drive....it's called "France"

Just eaten alive by midges