Oh, and laddermonkee me old china - that bit about the weak windies packing in in the winter may be true but the East Europeans are used to Russian winters blowing in off the steppes - they love it and think our weather is fantastic in the winter. Remember Moem Gorod? His guys love the winter!
All the Polish round our way think we're a bunch of wimps for packing it in at minus 2 degrees.
I heard one of them say to a custy I handed over to him "Gin Dobry madam! You want regular clockwork window cleaner? I your man! I come in all weather! My Pole will reach top corner of your sliding sash; satisfaction guaranteed."