IT'S interesting being British, don't you think? The British seem to have so much identity, so many things that characterise us.

Take the weather. This past week it has lived up to the 'four seasons in one day' adage and has seen those classic scenes of flip-flopped youngsters being caught under a sky of black clouds, regretting their choice of footwear, not to mention the Hawaiian grass skirt.

The best bit is, no one really seems to care. In fact, in some odd way people are proud.

I guess another example of this would be sport. Particularly if you're a Celtic Brit, losing to the Faroe Islands at football (to a rugby score line) is in some way part of the fabric of life.

Last week, the students of York University travelled to Lancaster to wage war in the annual battle entitled Roses. The outcome of the visit was defeat, of course blamed on lack of home advantage, but the performances were by all accounts spirited.

Unsurprisingly, being British as we are, this hasn't dampened spirits; we've left that to the drizzle.

Anyway, should the weather continue to be about as decisive as my girlfriend in a shoe shop, here are a couple of suggestions of what to do when you forget your brolly. Obviously, if the sun shines, just go and play with a Frisbee; that's what students do, after all.

As comedy is continuing to be successful at the university, I should draw your attention to other laughs to be had on your doorstep.

The Other Side comedy club runs most Sundays downstairs at City Screen, York and is, quite frankly, pretty darn good.

This Sunday you can get yourself down there for the princely sum of £6 (assuming you're a student, and not just an 'older gentlemen' who hangs around on campus) and enjoy top-notch joy and mirth from The Fluffy Brothers and Jarred Christmas, both acts this journalist can recommend, if only to find out why on earth performers would pick quite such innovative names.

Updated: 09:27 Friday, May 07, 2004