Every person who gleefully informed us of the bitingly cold and snowy winters in Berlin is now backtracking a little.
We have had no snow (yet). There have been a few frosts and the lake started to freeze, but now it's just wet and chilly. Not freezing. Not snowbound. Not a frozen wonderland. Just damp, grey, dark and depressing.
Everyone keeps justifying their previous comments as if we don't believe them.
"This time last year we were knee-deep in snow. Honestly!"
"I can't believe how warm it is this year. Truly, it wasn't like this before." And so on, with occasional references to global warming.
I know why the weather has remained relatively balmy. And it's nothing to do with global warming.
We recently invested a hell of a lot of money buying suitable coats, gloves and snow boots. We researched for ages so we didn't waste money on the 'wrong' attire, basing our expectations on the warnings we received. We tried on countless boots (or rather, I did. Rhiannon and Tim were easier to please and fit).
So, a lot of time and a lot of money was spent preparing for a cold and snowy Winter.
That's why it's not snowing.
According to various weather websites we can't expect any freezing temperatures or snow for at least the next ten days. So much for a white Christmas.
I feel a bit sulky about that.