I'm definitely not the first English person to complain about the weather and I certainly won't be the last. Given that it's now mid-August, I think it's official that this summer has been a total wash-out.
So, what are you meant to do with your time at the weekends when you should be lying on the beach?
Here's my recommendations for some good old-fashioned rainy day activities that won't break the bank.
1. Do a puzzle
Yes, before you all scream with outrage, I'm aware that I'm old before my time. But really, it can be much more fun that watching a film. Get some good friends round (the kind that won't laugh you out of town for even hinting that a puzzle is a good idea), grab a load of nibbles and of course some cake, and settle down to do a puzzle. I think you'll be surprised how much time you'll have to have a proper conversation. And of course you're rewarded with the feeling of satisfation once it's completed. Just don't pick one that's too difficult or you'll get frustrated and bored half way through.
2. Have a homemade makeover
Get all your best girlfriends round and try out different hairstyles and make-up techniques on each other. You might learn some handy tips or discover a new look. You could take this one step further by venturing out to your nearest shopping centre and choosing outfits for each other. Let the changing room giggles and photos commence!
3. Have an indoor picnic
Remember when you were a kid and you used to make forts/tents in your living room using chairs and blankets? No, just me then. Why not try doing this on a grander scale and decorating with fairy lights and flowers for a grown-up twist? You can spend the morning baking and ask your friends to bring some snacks and spend the afternoon drinking wine and reminiscing about the good old days when summer meant sunshine and tanned skin. You could even extend it to a sleepover and tell ghost stories with a torch held under your chin while you happily munch away on popcorn.
4. Read a book
I know, I know! These ideas are getting a bit 'out there' now. But really, make the most of your quiet downtime and read some of those bestsellers that everyone else is talking about but you've never seem to got around to reading (One Day anyone?). If your partner is equally as bored, maybe you could read aloud to each other. (Wow, my lameness has just reached new heights). My husband and I had great fun reading the last Harry Potter and The Da Vinci code to each other.
5. Spend the day in the kitchen
Make something out of one of those twenty dusty cookbooks that are just sat on the shelf. Get out of your comfort zone and try something completely new. It doesn't matter if it goes wrong, you've got all day to make something else for dinner!
What do you do for fun on a rainy afternoon?