Sir, - The following statements have a familiar ring: "As for the weather, that will never clear up; eternal rain, clouds and chill; surely summers were different formerly, or is youth the season of sunshine? For then I thought the summers gay and warm, but now, in my age, they appear cold and cheerless."
"In spring and autumn now we have often warm weather, whilst our midsummers are cold."
The statements are taken from Rides around Britain by John Byng and were made by him on August 2nd, 1787 and June 26th, 1792 respectively! - Yours, etc.,
Tony Scott, Tramore, Co Waterford.