By Brass monkey weather has finally arrived which means it has gone flipping cold. If you have never heard of the expression, brass monkey weather, this is what it means.
‘Brass Monkey Weather’ refers to very cold weather that is extremely out of the ordinary; cold enough to freeze the tail, nose and ears of a brass monkey.
Mild Weather
Up to now, the weather this Winter has been very mild. However, while I enjoy anything 20C or above It has been cloudy with that greyness that hangs around for far too long that makes everyone miserable. Yesterday, after what seemed like many years since the sun put in an appearance, we awoke to beautiful blue skies (when the mist cleared) and sub-zero temperatures.
Lovely Day
I had to admit, it was a beautiful day and so I decided that a good walk was on the cards to clear the cobwebs away. The wife said to me in her best school headmistress voice, (not that she ever was a teacher), ‘you better wrap up warm, it’s freezing out there!’ So it was, big coat, woolly hat, scarf and thermal gloves and away we went.
Unimpressed Sheep
She wasn’t wrong. It was bloomin’ freezing. Although we waited until mid-afternoon before setting off, there were still parts of the countryside that hadn’t thawed out all day. The sun was blazing away, low in the sky, but there was very little heat coming from it. Usually, we bump into one or two fellow walkers on our short one-mile walk, but today, we didn’t see a soul. There were a few sheep in the fields, but they didn’t seem too impressed with us.
Older and Colder
As always, I enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and exercising my legs and lungs. I just didn’t enjoy the brass monkey weather. It used to be far colder than this when I was growing up, I remember the snow and ice lasting for months and even the sea freezing in the harbour at Margate about 1963. It must be something to do with age, getting older we don’t like it colder!
If you’re interested in phrases and their origins, Ginger is an interesting website:
John
January 14, 2022Older and colder I do not like! And, I grew up in the north riding snowmobiles at -30F… ????????
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you John. -30F, that is cold!!!!
SueW
January 14, 2022Ah… memories! I remember buses getting stuck in the snow and walking home in blizzards that stung your eyes. At the opposite end, there were pavements on the street where we played that were so hot they burnt your bare feet!
Then living here the lane required the snow plough numerous times in winter because of snow drifts, after that a farmer round the corner would come up and clear our driveway with his tractor plough. ????
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you, Sue. I remember the buses getting stuck and cars disappearing under the snow for days on end. Those hot pavements and you had to be careful not to tread on a manhole cover in bare feet! Thank you, Sue. ????
Peter's pondering
January 14, 2022I see you’ve gone with the American derivation rather than the British Naval one!
Trev
January 14, 2022I can’t say I knew there was a difference? Thank you, Peter ????
June Lorraine Roberts
January 15, 2022Quite the difference Trev.
The story goes that cannonballs used to be stored aboard ship in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a ‘monkey’. In very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs: hence very cold weather is ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’.
Trev
January 15, 2022Thank you, June. I never knew that. ????
KINDNESS WISDOM
January 14, 2022After your very colorful hand knitwear perhaps your dresser may knit you a pair of long Johns Trev for your next post. ????????
Trev
January 14, 2022Haha, now there’s a thought. Thank you Kindness, but I think they would be a little itchy. ????
Yetismith
January 14, 2022You are right, it used to be so much colder. Here too, years ago. Now that I am retired and can spend most of the day warm indoors, I love Winter weather. When I was working and had to be outdoors a lot I was less enthused. It’s warmer here today but with howling gale it feels bitter. 1963…I remember that beastly Winter only too well!
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you, Yeti. The winter of 1963 is forever etched in my mind. It was cold, snow everywhere and it seemed to last forever. Thank you ????
Jim Flanigan
January 14, 2022Love the “Brass Monkey Weather” phrase. Here in Chicago, we endured a long stretch of BMW, but have enjoyed sunshine and highs of 4C for the past few days. Positively balmy!
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you, Jim and stay warm. ????
librepaley
January 14, 2022I aspire to a ‘headmistress voice’, along with a withering stare. Finally some chill and cloudless summer sun here, too – for a few minutes…
Trev
January 14, 2022Ooh, the headmistress voice always scares me! Stay warm and thank you. ????
Herb
January 14, 2022Sounds like some of the Wisconsin winters I grew up in. Brrrr…
Thanks for the link to Ginger. Looks interesting.
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you, Herb, you welcome about the Ginger link. Some good fun there. ????
nonsmokingladybug
January 14, 2022“Flipping cold” yep!
Trev
January 15, 2022Yep, indeed. Thank you 🙂
delphini510
January 14, 2022You do look very warm and dressed for this grey, foggy, cold monkey weather. I thought it was warm where monkeys live. I grew up much further north and every winter we skated on the sea – far out and skied on the snow.
It is getting warmer there too.
Walking seems more apt here.
miriam
Trev
January 15, 2022Thank you, Delphini. 🙂
Trev
January 16, 2022Thank you, Mitch ????
pIEdTyPe
January 14, 2022Climate change is causing weird weather around the globe. I haven’t noticed any brass monkeys around here, but I don’t go out much.
Trev
January 14, 2022Indeed, climate change is affecting us. Stay warm and thank you ????
Rosaliene Bacchus
January 14, 2022Good for you to get outside in such freezing weather 🙂 Anything below 15 degrees Celsius is too cold for me.
Trev
January 14, 2022Thank you, Rosaliene, I’m with you on the 15C. ????
sunnydaysinseattle
January 14, 2022I am okay with the cold weather, just not the damp cold we get in Lisbon. Stay warm!
Trev
January 15, 2022Yes, give me the warm weather any day. Thank you ????
luisa zambrotta
January 15, 2022I didn’t know that expression and I thank you for talking about it.
I also thank you for the site you suggested
Have a nice weekend ❄️????❄️
Trev
January 15, 2022Thank you, Luisa for your very kind words. ????
Going Batty in Wales
January 15, 2022It didn’tlast long did it? Back to grey and miserable here today.
Trev
January 15, 2022You’re right, grey and miserable here. It’s still brass monkey weather though. ???? Thank you
Maria Schumacher-Woodburn
January 15, 2022Where were these photos taken?
Trev
January 15, 2022It’s a place in mid-Wales called Llangunllo. Thank you, Maria. 🙂
Cindy Georgakas
January 15, 2022new phrase for me Trev~! ????
Trev
January 15, 2022Thank you, Cindy, I am pleased you have learned something here. 🙂
mitchteemley
January 15, 2022Brass-monkey-cold, yes (first time I’ve heard the expression, and I like it), but still beautiful!
Cherryl
January 16, 2022Keep yourself warm and toasty ☕️????
Funnily I was just complaining to myself ???? that they’ve been threatening snow for the past couple of weeks and it hasn’t really happened, not properly, just foggy, frosty grey days….and if we’re not going to have a ‘proper’ cold and snowy winter can we just skip to spring/summer please ????????????????
Trev
January 16, 2022Thank you, Cherryl. I tend to agree with your last sentence. ????
Invisibly Me
January 16, 2022Brass monkey weather indeed. Looks like a lovely day there though and very refreshing, and it does make coming home to a nice cuppa (and the central heating) feel all the more welcome. My body is not impressed by this morgue-cooler weather at all. Bring on the summer! We have to wait 364 days to get 2 days of summer in this country though ???? xx
Trev
January 16, 2022Thank you, Caz. I hope you’re not suffering too bad with the cold weather. I agree, bring on the one day of summer. ????????????
susiesopinions
January 18, 2022I lived in Kent in 1963. I hated the winters. I have the heating on in Florida right now ????
Trev
January 18, 2022Thank you, Susie. I hate the cold weather too, I much prefer the summer sun. ????
singhpiyush6089
January 18, 2022It’s freezing cold in my part of the world too … unbearable for young people as well Trev…
Trev
January 18, 2022Stay warm, my friend. Thank you. ????
Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet
January 18, 2022I enjoyed ice and snow for 45 years, but I have lived in Florida for 26 years. I don’t think I could take the cold any more. 🙂 Did you remember your Long Johns and wool socks? Have a great day, Trev!
Trev
January 18, 2022I think I would prefer Florida and the warmth, thank you Cheryl. I shall have to dig my long johns out of my warm sock draw, I know they’re there somewhere. Thank you, Cheryl. ????
Dave Kingsbury
January 18, 2022Blimey, Trev, hope you were wearing your thermals!
Trev
January 18, 2022I am Dave and sitting on top of the fire. Thank you. ????
Endless Weekend
January 19, 2022Your delightful and vivid description of the cold winter you’ve been experiencing, reminded me of an old favorite quote “Imagine if fire extinguishers were full of snow. Imagine the fun we could have.” 🙂
Trev
January 19, 2022Thank you, that does sound like it would be a lot of great fun. ????????
markbierman
January 22, 2022I hear you about the deep freeze. It was minus 33 Celsius here yesterday.
Trev
January 22, 2022Thank you, Mark. -33C oooh that’s beyond cold!
kevinashton
January 23, 2022In Birmingham, where I grew up we used to say…”Its a bit parky this morning”, but I have no idea of the origin of the phrase?
Best Wishes
Kevin
Trev
January 23, 2022Ha, I know that phrase well, thanks, Kevin. ????
lorriebowden
January 23, 2022I’m with you on this one!! Anything below 85F is cold to me. I am leaving town for much colder weather this coming week…and not EXACTLY looking forward to it! Stay warm…never heard “Brass Monkey Weather” before 😉
Trev
January 23, 2022Thank you, Lorrie. Yes, I hate the cold weather. I don’t envy you having to leave for much colder weather. Wrap up warm, safe travels. 🙂