Brolly good time

While growing up in southern Ontario during the 1970s and 80s, umbrellas were the provenance of fuddy-duddies and women of an older generation, like my Nan, who still adhered to head scarves for protection. There was nothing cool about the umbrella. Only John Steed made it look dashing and, hell, he also pulled off a bowler. The rest of us would just look like Burgess Meredith’s Penguin.

So, when the rain fell it was a simple process – pull the cap tighter and flip up the collar on the jacket. The only concession was to pull on a pair of black rubber boots. Then it was outside to play in the rain. And come back a few hours later for lunch after your mom yelled a couple of times to come in.

This memory was brought home during a recent visit to the interior of B.C. After years of residing on the coast, affliction to the rain has grown and an umbrella, of some sort, is usually close at hand when clouds appear. On this day, walking through town the skies opened and the pocket brolly was whipped out; in marked contrast, the others commuting by foot simply pulled the cap down, flipped the collar up and dug the hands deeper into the jean’s pockets.

No doubt life on the wet coast of Canada has softened the skin. From living in the cold weather testing capital of North America to now ensconced in Victoria where a bloom count in January is possible, the elements impact differently now.

And it turns out dealing with the rain requires a dizzying array of apparatus. Hidden in storage are parkas and toques. The only Canada Goose easily accessible is a solitary toque.

Instead, the winter wear is replaced by overcoats, raincoats, full umbrellas, pocket brollies, galoshes, wellies, flat caps and waxed caps. And there needs to be – of course – accoutrements at home and office.

As wet coasters, toughness is demonstrated by braving the driving, sideways rains but there are times when umbrellas are suitable. Usually, they involve a suit and a walk to work. An overcoat is essential for warmth, with an umbrella needed to ward off the wet.

The question arises, however, which style should a 50-something in full dress use. Maybe I’m becoming fussy, but if you’re fully suited and coated then a full umbrella is the best option. It looks fashionable and functional; it hangs easily off the arm, has a wider spread and is usually stronger in the bracing breeze.

Now, as someone who travels back and forth from Victoria to Vancouver – usually by floatplane – carrying a full brolly is difficult; so a folding umbrella, in same pattern, sits in the messenger bag and is ready for the inevitable Vancouver downpour. That’s my version of compromise.

(And Vancouver collects more precipitation than Victoria. In fact, as a comparison, Vancouver’s average annual rainfall is 1,117.2 mm, almost double London’s average of 601mm per year)

The pulse of the pounding precipitation dictates how much gear is needed for more casual wear. A drizzle does not warrant extra coverage – a hat and pair of Hunters, along with rain jacket, is all that is expected. Another more and mocking laughter will echo the streets.  For a brolly and rain coat to be combined, think proverbial – cats and dogs best be flying past on the way to crashing into the ground.

Though, on the weekend, on odd happening – the waxed cap was fixed in place on the point and the umbrella was used more to keep yoga mat dry. That is totally acceptable.

It’s a peculiar place I reside but you can have a brolly good time.