Sheffield, England: 8 degrees, cold, rainy, grey and dreary.
I’m visiting my brother and his family in Sheffield, and staying at their neighbour Steven’s house, who is a very nice guy. We first met when he was backpacking around South America in Rio.
At that time, 12 years ago, I was still married to Nalva, and we were living in Flamengo with Yasmin and the dogs. We invited him for dinner, which Nalva kindly cooked very well, and showed him around Flamengo and its beach.
At that time, Stephen was a freelance tiler in England; now he’s a roofer and fixes roofs. He’s 65, lives by himself in a council-rented house that he has rented for over 30 years. He doesn’t want to buy it; he prefers to rent it.
I’m not sure if he looks his age, older, or if his appearance has been weathered by the harsh Yorkshire climate. The people here endure a lack of sunlight combined with frequent rain and strong winds, which can change the appearance of any stone over time. Similarly, the weather can easily take a toll on anyone.
When I woke up, it was sunny with a beautiful, clear blue sky, but within the matter of an hour, the sky had completely changed to a grey, wet, and windy day. So grey, dark, and damp, for me, it has been the worst day since my arrival in England.
Instead of visiting an important place in Sheffield due to the weather, I ended up going to two shopping centres. It is clear to me how much the weather controls our lives and our behaviour. For more than half my life, I have lived in Brazil, specifically in Rio, a tropical city where the sun shines all year round, 24/7.
At times it rains in Rio, but even so, when it does, the rain is warm, not these harsh, damp, wet blankets that cover and suffocate you all the time with cold here.
England has been a significant shock for me, and coming to Sheffield has been an even bigger one. It feels colder, drearier, and harsher here. I get the impression that it’s easy to get depressed in this environment. You need to be strong and resilient to withstand the elements, or they can easily overwhelm you. If you’re not careful, it can bring you down.
Life is tough anywhere, but in a place like this, with extreme cold and harsh weather, it can be even more challenging without some form of comfort. I find it difficult, almost unbearable. Nobody dies from sleeping on the streets in Rio de Janeiro, but here in Sheffield, England, it’s not just unlikely—it’s virtually guaranteed. This reality is especially stark in northern England during the middle of winter.
Talking about creature comforts in cold weather, walking around a shopping centre here in Sheffield, you notice how much variety and options there are on display and available in England. Because of this, I think English people turn to consumerism and the importance of materialism to compensate for the limitations put on them due to the weather.
People’s homes have all and more of the necessary creature comforts and mod cons; everybody has a good car, and everybody dresses extremely well. However, the question is, does all this compensate for the lack of outdoor life, getting enough sun, and having fun?
My brother made dinner again, and it was very nice and pleasant, but I’m also feeling some tension between us. I felt it yesterday, and I’m feeling it this evening. I’m getting the impression that me being here with him and his family after so long is reminding him of bitter memories from the past.
In bed by 11:00 p.m.
Thank you.
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Richard
