Living in the UK: Oddities of Life in the United Kingdom

OK, picture this scenario: it is winter, deep into winter. In fact, it is the last few days of December. The temperature outside is barely above freezing. Yes, the sun is shining, but no warmth is radiating from it on this day. So my first question is, "Why do people continue to walk around dressed in a T-shirt?"

No coat, jacket, hoodie or anything else that most people would call a warm piece of clothing, to cover the top half of their torso.

These people can regularly be seen to be emerging from their cars, and walk across to the shop or store of their choice, so on to my next question. When these people get up in the morning do they just forget it is winter?

I work outside in these temperatures; I am exposed to the cold for eight to ten hours at a time. Yes I am wearing a t-shirt, but I also have another four layers of clothing on over that shirt. Inside my shoes I have two pairs of socks upon my feet, am wearing a thermal layer beneath my jeans. Just to finish off I am also sporting a fetching hat and gloves.

So what other odd behaviour or acts of madness have I witnessed during my time in the UK?

One crazy antic I have witnessed takes place the day after Christmas (Boxing Day, as it is called in the UK), in a small coastal village in the north east of Scotland to be precise. Some brave or could it be called foolhardy souls will willingly jump into the water. Now it is not quite break the ice before you enter cold, but it is certainly cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, cold you understand. Anyway the objective is to jump into the harbour and swim across the water to the far side of the harbour. The water in this part of the world is never warm, even in the summer months so the thought of voluntarily jumping into this in the middle of winter is indeed an act of bravery or foolishness.

I guess some of those hardy souls from that part of the world have plenty of spirit inside them to help with this endeavour, most of the spirit I believe is in the form of scotch whisky.