title: Load data from a YAML file into variables in python
body: <p>I have a YAML file whose contents look like:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a: 45
  b: cheese
  c: 7.8
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I want to be able to read this information into variables in python but after extensive googling I can't work out if this is possible or do I have to put it into another python type first before it can be put into variables? Ultimately I want to use the values from a and c for calculations.</p>