I can't tell you how many cities I've heard claim the phrase that best describes the weather in their city is "If you don't like it, wait five minutes and it'll change." There are probably a few areas—I'm thinking Southern California probably falls in this category—where they don't claim to have ever-changing weather. But in London, it really does seem to be true. Except that in five minutes, it's probably goig to change for the worse.

The rain just comes out of nowhere; I wake up to mostly sunny skies and figure it might actually be a nice day—I am wrong. I will head out, go somewhere, and several hours later, without fail, I will emerge from whatever building I have been inside of and discover that either it has been raining or that it is currently raining.

I've finally resorted to carrying an umbrella with me at all times.

The problem is I have umbrella-carrying issues. I'm just not coordinated enough to handle one most of the time; they're awkward and get blown out by the wind and mostly, I end up being very, very afraid of poking people's eyes out.

I comfort myself with the knowledge that at least my umbrella is not overly large and obnoxious; it's not curved in one of those dome-shaped ways that is probably relatively practical in terms of protection-from-the-elements but very obnoxious for those who are trying to walk near you on the street. Especially if it's a large dome. With metal spikey things on the tips.

Today, at least, it is sunny and I can enjoy that for a moment or two—maybe even an entire five minutes.