Cos it's in Wales. Easiest to assume it'll always be raining in Wales, and then you can be quite surprised when it doesn't. Same applies to Scotland.
Matt, as a Manchester lad you're slipping! Ponderosa is up there with the likes of Squires, Rivington and the Cat and Fiddle as a destination for northern bikers. Reckon you've been pottering round the polders a bit too long!