This story seems to be doing the rounds - unfortunately nobody seems to have told the met office
they say:
UK winter forecast
The latest forecast for this winter continues to favour near average or warmer-than-average temperatures, but still with potential for lower temperatures later in the period.
Average or above-average rainfall continues to be the more likely outcome for the UK this winter.
Updated: 1000 on Tue 5 Dec 2006
Sounds like an average British winter to me - warm, wet and windy with the odd few days of cold weather thrown in just in case you've got any sensitive plants you've left out