Surviving the UK Weather
Hnin — “For me, the best months in the UK are June, July, and August.”
Moe — “Can I disagree? I prefer April and May—the months when the old leaves have fallen and the new ones begin to return...”
When Hnin and I sat down to talk about the four seasons in the UK, we couldn't agree on which one is actually livable.
Most people wait all year for the sunny British summer. But according to the Met Office, Summer 2026 was officially the hottest in UK history. Since almost no homes here have air conditioning, heatwaves turn bedrooms into ovens—to the point where you have to escape to the local park just to breathe (I even bought Hnin a small fan to survive it, though she insists I stop calling it a “crappy little fan”).
For me, nothing beats Oxford in April and May.
Where I used to live, there was a quiet woodland path that led straight into the Oxford city centre. All through winter, the trees along that walk stood completely bare and dry. Then, as April and May arrived, the canopy would slowly come back to life. Not too hot, and with the bite of winter finally fading—that in-between season is the best time of year to walk.
Now, at the end of October, the weather has shifted again. Just this past week, Britain was hit back-to-back by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, and with the clocks going back an hour, darkness settles in by 4:30 PM. Meanwhile, back home in Myanmar and across Asia, a late-2026 El Niño is bringing unseasonable heat and erratic weather right at the transition from monsoon to winter.
During sudden seasonal shifts like this—not as medical professionals, just as two normal people figuring out daily life—here are four small habits we actually rely on:
- Keep your feet warm first
No matter how thick your coat is, if your feet are freezing, your whole body feels cold. Trading thin sneakers for a pair of thick socks and windproof boots or work shoes makes a massive difference against the British chill. - Check the full day’s temperature before stepping out
A sunny morning can easily trick you into wearing a light shirt, only for the temperature to drop below 10°C by the time you commute home. I check the full-day forecast on The Weather Channel app—if it’s hovering around 10°C, I reach for a heavy leather jacket, while Hnin never leaves without a scarf and an umbrella in her bag. - Protect your hands and skin before they crack
In cold weather, constantly washing dishes or working with water strips your skin dry until your knuckles crack and bleed. Once they split, healing takes forever. Start using a proper hand cream, moisturizer, lip balm—and even a body wash suited to your skin type—before the cold does the damage. - Keep home remedies in the kitchen
Whenever we catch a chill outside or feel a scratchy throat coming on, Hnin makes a mug of hot boiled ginger water with fresh lemon, honey, and a tiny pinch of salt. It clears the chest immediately. (And for friends back in Myanmar dealing with the El Niño heat and seasonal transition—stay hydrated and look after yourselves.)
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English notes adapted from our Burmese commuter podcast — Moe Notes Podcast (EP 01: Surviving the UK Weather).
Full Burmese audio & transcripts available at moenotes.com/podcast
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