What a dreadful summer

[Wood~Ant]

Okay, I know we Brits are always going on about the weather. We're either too hot or too cold, and it may seem to others like it's all we ever talk about; but come on, let us be honest and say this is one really dreadful summer as it absolutely piddling down with rain as I type

No wonder the winged ants in my local Lasius and Myrmica nests cannot fly yet, as when they do get a warm sunny day it is blowing a force 10 gale; and when the winds drop it pours down on their nest.
I feel sorry for the poor things, as it is the one time in their short miserable lives that male ants get to enjoy themselves before they die. I just hope we get a better August as we need an improvement of this month

On top of all this cold and damp, I have a severe sinus infection which refuses to go away, as I've had it for a month now.
I have just finished a course of Amoxicillin antibiotics which haven't even touched it. I might as well have taken a dose of sugar for all the good they did me
I am going back to see my doctor again today, and hope he'll put me on something stronger to relieve all this horrible nasal congestion and sinus pain.
Believe me, you do not want to know what I'm blowing down my nose, and every morning I wake up blocked up. Not that I'm sleeping much either, so I am suffering from sleep deprivation and get rather short tempered with our dog and cat, and life itself isn't much fun when I get like this, much to Jen's annoyance!

Enough of my ranting, as it will only make the rest of you depressed if I go on any longer

[Kyle]

Well here in Gravesend we've had a lovely summer, not too much rain nice storms and for the last 1-2 weeks its been at least 30oC+ ;D, and I've heard on the Radio (BBC radio 4) Gravesend has been the hottest place in England for the last couple of days ;D
sorry but I love bragging about that lol
hope you get better soon Wood

[Zarbi]

It hasn't got much better as it is still very overcast and rains a lot, but August can get hot and sunny.
A few flights have happened, but I haven't seen any Myrmica fly as yet.

[Wood~Ant]

I think this must surely be the coldest, most awful summer we've had in Britain for a long time. Here we are almost into September and I haven't seen very much local ant activity for the last 7 weeks apart from those few hot days when the Lasius flew.

I thought global warming would mean hot summers, but mostly it has been either very wet, or blowing gale force winds which make it very cold for the time of year

No wonder we haven't had many members posting about ants, as there has been very little to post about unless you keep large colonies.
If anyone can think of something to liven up the forum, like the ant stories we used to do or perhaps a game we can all play on the forum, then please do post your suggestions

It looks like our filming expedition into the hills to video Myrmica nests will have to wait until next year, as it is a bit too late to do this now.
Oh well, let's hope what ants we have, or can get before the end of this abysmal summer will live long and prosper to keep us hobbyists going strong