BRITISH PEOPLE are fond of talking about the weather. What they really enjoy, though, is grumbling about the rain. Fortunately, they have ample opportunity and a rich vocabulary, according to Alan Connor, author of a new book about rain in Britain. A heavy downpour can be “pissing, tipping, chucking or bucketing it down”. In the Midlands you might call it a “plothering”. Head to the West Country and you still hear “mizzle” (between mist and drizzle) and “letty” (just enough patter to make outdoor work trying).