I headed into town for a meeting this morning. At 9.45 the temperature was pleasant, by the time I came home at 11.30 it was getting far too hot for me. I have nothing on till six when we're off for a guided walk round one of the local conservation areas. I hope it has cooled down by then. In between I really need to sort out the first draft on Sunday's speech.
The other thing I've done is booked a holiday for September/October, walking in the Veneto region of Italy.
Arkland the Alarmed was woken abruptly at 4am by a very noisy Storm, all got up regardless, and complete with Thunder, Lightning, and Heavy Rain. No hailstones, though...
84F and rising, though the hottest day is now set to be Friday (98F). I'm glad I cancelled today's Pilates, but will do my Homework Exercises this evening.
I'm also pleased that yesterday afternoon was clement enough to allow Neighbour F's son, B, who has just left Skool, to scrape all the loose and flaky paint from the section of deck over the galley and part of the saloon. This means that, when the weather is a little cooler, I'll be able to paint the said deck. I sit on a small Stool, and use a long-handled Roller, remembering (of course) not to paint myself into a corner...
Lunch is to be pan-fried STEAK (because use-by date), with Potato Salad and Watercress.
Here in the Wilds of Wiltshire it is Very Hot, with an intermittent (hot) breeze.
I have been in all morning, doing load after load of laundry and slowly sorting things. It's a good job I have no plans to be out as I'm also waiting for a parcel to be collected - a large and awkwardly-shaped Car Part which Mr Nen took ages to package up yesterday. He is away until this evening and said parcel, currently sitting in our hallway, was meant to be collected yesterday. We didn't arrange the collection and the tracking number is not recognised by the courier's online tracking facility. I am Irritated.
Just to let you all know that the current heatwave is a figment of our collective imaginations. My Dear Old Mum (RIP) always maintained that after the summer solstice there was an Autumnal Nip in the air and of course Mother Is Always Right .
I reckon you could totally fry an egg on the top of our balcony wall. (The rest of the balcony has been literally doused in water and is merely hot rather than untouchable.)
This morning we went to the market and bought sundry fruit and vegetables, along with cooked meats and the like. After an early lunch, the Captain and I went to the cinema to take advantage of their air conditioning. We watched Toy Story 5 which was pretty much the only kids' movie that was on. I quite liked it- this time the toys have a fearful new adversary in the shape of a tablet computer.
Mrs Sioni rose and put washing on and now out despite the heat and her discomfort. It is scorchio by local standards (32 feels like 34) and there is no breeze which is unfair as the breeze/wind/gales. Might go out but not going far.
Pimms on the Patio now likely at 7:30 not 6 pm.
It was my birthday yesterday, the warmest one that I remember while in the UK. If my memory serves, the 1976 heat didn’t kick in till around 26th which is my sister’s birthday.
I enjoyed the heat, but enjoyed the thunderstorm and rain in the evening even more.
It had rained in the night apparently but I slept through it, until 5.05am.
Car was in for service and MOT today. Still just in warranty so needed to go to the dealership which is awkward by public transport so I booked a “ while you wait” slot, arriving at 1015 for 1030am.
I left at 5.10pm! The only reason this is not in AS Hell thread is that the waiting area has a cafe ( free tea) toilets and air con! I had nothing else planned for today and it was cooler than my house so I was not too inconvenienced, plus I got a hefty discount.
They were 6 technicians short, without warning ( too hot to work? ) then my car failed its MOT because of wiper blades which they had to order in, meaning a further two hour delay, but no additional test fee needed. I declined the ( free) wash and valet, but still had to drive in rush hour traffic.
Next year I need to book two months ahead if I want a courtesy car.
I was also glad I wasn’t relying on my daughter to ferry me as she ended up in the Treatment centre, sent there by her GP with a wound that has not healed, still infected after antibiotics.
Happy Birthday @Tree Bee. I hope the heat didn't disrupt your plans for the day.
Having cancelled the walk we were leading tomorrow I've now cancelled going to see my friend on Thursday. The train company were warning people not to travel and as it was just a day out for a catch up rather than a specific event we've rearranged. I think that is just as well as we went out for a guided walk round one of the oldest bits of town after tea. It was really interesting, but two hours of standing on my feet on an evening when it was still around 30° was a bit much.
Very little movement of air this evening, so opening doors & windows either end of the house when the sun went down has been no help in cooling the indoors. Feels like the sky is a warm, damp, blanket thrown over us.
Think I'll take a cool shower before I get into, or more likely onto, my bed.
I've swimming (heated pool) and, as usual, am now feeling slightly chilly.
Windows have been opened upstairs but not, as yet, downstairs.
Windows were closed by about that time here as Outside was already hotter than Inside, a state of affairs that continued long into the evening.
An evaporative cooling fan bought to attempt to deal with the problem is unfortunately about as much use as a chocolate fireguard so I'm contemplating actual aircon. Unfortunately most portable units come designed for sash windows, which makes about as much sense as designing a wallet to take ten shilling notes.
Came here to commiserate with everyone else suffering in the heat! It means I'm basically nocturnal at the moment as night-time is the only time I can stand doing anything but lying in front of the fan in the dark with a wet towel draped over me. The air is like soup! Inside is warmer than outside so blinds down but windows open during the day. Right now I am watching videos on eating at night markets and wishing they were a thing here!
The heat is due to peak on Thursday, with it due to get to 38c here (34c today, 36c tomorrow), but apparently it will be quite windy so hopefully there will be some breeze. Accuweather keeps predicting storms that never happen here...
At last count only one room, the smallest one, had no fan, but that has an extractor. Downstairs front window closed, everything else open. Still stinking hot and we are moving slowly if at all.
Temp advertised as 23c but humidity was 91%. Mother Nature’s tacky dance is probably off the menu.
Thankfully I don't have to go out today, as I
did yesterday and Monday. Both times to the Health Centre for bloods/diabetes review. I am more than 14 kg lighter than this time last year.
Not that it's as hot here - open doors and windows enough to keep a through draught. Night-time probably the worst - awake way too early from a panicking dream in which I had to acquire a third copy of a new biography of Joseph Wright of Derby.
We have another viewing on our house booked in for tomorrow at lunch time.
So in the height of the heat I will need to open all the curtains and shutters in order to maximise the light and will thereby undo all our attempts at cooling down the house.
Hey ho!
With reference to my earlier comment does anyone have any recommendations for a good affordable AC unit that will work with modern UPVC double glazing? It's currently 25°C outside and in which means that's the coolest it's going to get because there's no cooler air to move around. I'm already sweaty and dripping and I've got things I need to do which is fucking hard when every movement generates heat I can't seem to get rid of.
Got up at about 6.30 and opened both front and back doors to allow hot air to be replaced by cooler air. Had to shut them when I went shopping but opened them when I returned and had breakfast. At 9 I had an online school Finance Committee, just finished.
With reference to my earlier comment does anyone have any recommendations for a good affordable AC unit that will work with modern UPVC double glazing? It's currently 25°C outside and in which means that's the coolest it's going to get because there's no cooler air to move around. I'm already sweaty and dripping and I've got things I need to do which is fucking hard when every movement generates heat I can't seem to get rid of.
You can get AC units that attach to the wall rather than the in-window type - I fear that installing those would be expensive though since they're permanently attached.
One thing though- next person who says to me "just enjoy the lovely weather you miserable gir" gets their face punched in while I shout "just enjoy the punching you miserable git!"
It's a balmy and breezy 29 degrees here ... the breeze makes all the difference and I haven't yet put on the fan. It will get much hotter later though ...
89F already in Arkland the Accursed, with no breeze to speak of.
A trip to Tess Coe the Air-Conditioned is required, but I'd be reduced to a wet rag by the time I got to the car, so it'll wait until either this evening, or tomorrow...
@KarlLB - there are various portable AC units being advertised on YouTube at the moment, but beware! there are also videos revealing them as a waste of time and £££...
With reference to my earlier comment does anyone have any recommendations for a good affordable AC unit that will work with modern UPVC double glazing? It's currently 25°C outside and in which means that's the coolest it's going to get because there's no cooler air to move around. I'm already sweaty and dripping and I've got things I need to do which is fucking hard when every movement generates heat I can't seem to get rid of.
There’s stuff advertised on the B&Q website (diy.com) including various window adapters.
I would have thought that just as car air conditioning can operate on the recirculating setting a portable air conditioner could improve things without meeting a window outlet. Although, that said, there has to be somewhere for the heat to go. 🤔
I've never quite understood how portable air conditioners work. If they're in a closed room the heat extracted has to go somewhere; in fact my thermodynamics backgrounds says that, when using one, you're actually putting energy into the room rather than extracting it.
If you look for a mini split air conditioner, the outlet bit is a block that goes outside. You only need the window open a crack, but you do need somewhere to put it (eg it won't work upstairs). They are more expensive than the ones with an outlet tube, but much less than a fully plumbed in unit.
Alternatively you can get a PVC kit to close up the window if you're using a mobile air conditioner with an outlet pipe that goes outside. This sort of thing.
For different reasons I drove to work yesterday and today rather than cycle. The cars' air con was probably more comfortable than my bike's. The office is nicely cool but its output is into the factory below so the actual workers of the company are suffering for my comfort.
Mrs Rogue worked the last two nights so has been sleeping during the day which has not been a pleasant experience for her. The thick curtains which do a good job of keeping out the light also excel at keeping the heat in. It's a shame there isn't space to put a bed in my office for her to use on these occasions.
The humidity is definitely making it feel worse - previous heatwaves haven't felt quite so oppressive even if they've also been miserable. 34c here and set to rise to 38/39c. I am coping by lying in front of the fan with a wet towel around my neck (and obviously staying hydrated), which seems to be staving off heat exhaustion but I could tell even early this morning how much hotter it would be today.
I will say that I now truly understand things like southern US style sweet iced tea (which is far sweeter than eg Lipton's iced tea) because the heat + humidity really saps your energy so badly. I can see why you need the human equivalent of hummingbird nectar to keep going!
Unfortunately I also have a pain response to cold water (24C or below, ironically at the top end of my air temperature tolerance) and hate the feel of damp fabrics like wet towels (I forced myself to use one to hang the washing out earlier but can't put up with it for long) so I'm basically screwed for the commonly suggested ideas for cooling off.
The damp fabric thing is incidentally why I seldom go swimming. I can never get properly dry in the changing rooms so end up with that slightly damp clothing feeling. Blech!
I walked down to the village green this morning to catch the mobile library which was, frustratingly, a no-show. By the time I got back all I was capable of was sitting in the lounge (the coolest room at the time) with my feet in a bowl of cold water for a while.
The parcel that was supposed to be collected on Monday and wasn't, nor was it collected yesterday, required a phone call and new labels to be issued... it has just been collected now, in the last hour of the window we were given. Glad to see that out of the hall and on the way to wherever it's going.
I was out to my book group last night and several of us went to the pub to eat first. I was surprised, in the light of the immense heat, that they were still doing hot food but according to the lovely girl behind the bar the kitchen staff have regular "fridge breaks" - ie, they get into the walk-in fridge.
I'm hoping the woods are cooler for a walk this afternoon but first I've got to cross the Plain of Gehenna (aka the bit between here and the woods) so we'll see how that goes.
Have ceiling fans caught on much in the UK yet? They are common in North America and are especially good if you can place one over your bed. The gentle air movement is all it takes to feel a lot cooler and stop the sweating. Our fans get a lot of use here (southern Ontario).
My wife went to her coffee and chat Welsh group this morning. The cafe has air-con and the bus was just about bearable. Both local high schools are closed, and the local primary school closed at lunchtime. My wife's Keep Fit tomorrow has been cancelled, but we've decided to go ahead with our Playgroup Trustees meeting tonight.
I went for a walk earlier and have got a couple of hours of work in (my garden office has an air source heat pump with reverse air conditioning). Currently 31 here. I’ve been debating ice lollies with my sons (old YouGov survey): https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/31254-magnum-not-ice-lolly-say-most-brits
I went for a walk earlier and have got a couple of hours of work in (my garden office has an air source heat pump with reverse air conditioning). Currently 31 here. I’ve been debating ice lollies with my sons (old YouGov survey): https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/31254-magnum-not-ice-lolly-say-most-brits
Have ceiling fans caught on much in the UK yet? They are common in North America and are especially good if you can place one over your bed. The gentle air movement is all it takes to feel a lot cooler and stop the sweating. Our fans get a lot of use here (southern Ontario).
AFAIK, ceiling fans aren't commonly found in the UK, at least in homes, but I may be wrong.
Have ceiling fans caught on much in the UK yet? They are common in North America and are especially good if you can place one over your bed. The gentle air movement is all it takes to feel a lot cooler and stop the sweating. Our fans get a lot of use here (southern Ontario).
AFAIK, ceiling fans aren't commonly found in the UK, at least in homes, but I may be wrong.
I know a church which has them. Mind you, the primary reason for installing them was to push warm air back down during the winter, instead of allowing it to fill the roof space.
Do you actually have a ceiling? Many warehouses don't.
When we lived in West Africa (mudbrick house, corrugated metal roof, intermittent electricity), we had ceilings which were well ventilated by a gap between the top of the walls and the roof. This let air blow through and was a great help.
Also iirc a higher proportion of British people rent rather than own their homes compared to the US and Canada, which makes things more difficult in terms of making permanent changes to a home.
Also ice lollies are water-based, a Magnum is an ice cream imo.
Do you actually have a ceiling? Many warehouses don't.
When we lived in West Africa (mudbrick house, corrugated metal roof, intermittent electricity), we had ceilings which were well ventilated by a gap between the top of the walls and the roof. This let air blow through and was a great help.
No, we don’t have a ceiling for the main part of the room, and we have a metal roof. It’s noisy when it rains.
I bet! I taught Bible School in Africa and there were times during the rainy season when we had to pause the lesson.
I also remember being in church when there was terrible screeching and thumping coming from the roof. We stopped the service to take a look: vultures were trying to perch on the roof but kept sliding down instead.
Comments
Windows have been opened upstairs but not, as yet, downstairs.
The other thing I've done is booked a holiday for September/October, walking in the Veneto region of Italy.
84F and rising, though the hottest day is now set to be Friday (98F). I'm glad I cancelled today's Pilates, but will do my Homework Exercises this evening.
I'm also pleased that yesterday afternoon was clement enough to allow Neighbour F's son, B, who has just left Skool, to scrape all the loose and flaky paint from the section of deck over the galley and part of the saloon. This means that, when the weather is a little cooler, I'll be able to paint the said deck. I sit on a small Stool, and use a long-handled Roller, remembering (of course) not to paint myself into a corner...
Lunch is to be pan-fried STEAK (because use-by date), with Potato Salad and Watercress.
I have been in all morning, doing load after load of laundry and slowly sorting things. It's a good job I have no plans to be out as I'm also waiting for a parcel to be collected - a large and awkwardly-shaped Car Part which Mr Nen took ages to package up yesterday. He is away until this evening and said parcel, currently sitting in our hallway, was meant to be collected yesterday. We didn't arrange the collection and the tracking number is not recognised by the courier's online tracking facility. I am Irritated.
Just to let you all know that the current heatwave is a figment of our collective imaginations. My Dear Old Mum (RIP) always maintained that after the summer solstice there was an Autumnal Nip in the air and of course Mother Is Always Right
This morning we went to the market and bought sundry fruit and vegetables, along with cooked meats and the like. After an early lunch, the Captain and I went to the cinema to take advantage of their air conditioning. We watched Toy Story 5 which was pretty much the only kids' movie that was on. I quite liked it- this time the toys have a fearful new adversary in the shape of a tablet computer.
Pimms on the Patio now likely at 7:30 not 6 pm.
I enjoyed the heat, but enjoyed the thunderstorm and rain in the evening even more.
It apparently got up to 27° here today.
When I was coming home it was certainly warm, but there was a nice wee breeze which made all the difference.
Thinking of you all in the sultry South - especially La Vie and Captain PJs.
Supper was quiche and salads, followed by ice-cream.
Car was in for service and MOT today. Still just in warranty so needed to go to the dealership which is awkward by public transport so I booked a “ while you wait” slot, arriving at 1015 for 1030am.
I left at 5.10pm! The only reason this is not in AS Hell thread is that the waiting area has a cafe ( free tea) toilets and air con! I had nothing else planned for today and it was cooler than my house so I was not too inconvenienced, plus I got a hefty discount.
They were 6 technicians short, without warning ( too hot to work? ) then my car failed its MOT because of wiper blades which they had to order in, meaning a further two hour delay, but no additional test fee needed. I declined the ( free) wash and valet, but still had to drive in rush hour traffic.
Next year I need to book two months ahead if I want a courtesy car.
I was also glad I wasn’t relying on my daughter to ferry me as she ended up in the Treatment centre, sent there by her GP with a wound that has not healed, still infected after antibiotics.
Having cancelled the walk we were leading tomorrow I've now cancelled going to see my friend on Thursday. The train company were warning people not to travel and as it was just a day out for a catch up rather than a specific event we've rearranged. I think that is just as well as we went out for a guided walk round one of the oldest bits of town after tea. It was really interesting, but two hours of standing on my feet on an evening when it was still around 30° was a bit much.
Think I'll take a cool shower before I get into, or more likely onto, my bed.
Windows were closed by about that time here as Outside was already hotter than Inside, a state of affairs that continued long into the evening.
An evaporative cooling fan bought to attempt to deal with the problem is unfortunately about as much use as a chocolate fireguard so I'm contemplating actual aircon. Unfortunately most portable units come designed for sash windows, which makes about as much sense as designing a wallet to take ten shilling notes.
The heat is due to peak on Thursday, with it due to get to 38c here (34c today, 36c tomorrow), but apparently it will be quite windy so hopefully there will be some breeze. Accuweather keeps predicting storms that never happen here...
Temp advertised as 23c but humidity was 91%. Mother Nature’s tacky dance is probably off the menu.
did yesterday and Monday. Both times to the Health Centre for bloods/diabetes review. I am more than 14 kg lighter than this time last year.
Not that it's as hot here - open doors and windows enough to keep a through draught. Night-time probably the worst - awake way too early from a panicking dream in which I had to acquire a third copy of a new biography of Joseph Wright of Derby.
So in the height of the heat I will need to open all the curtains and shutters in order to maximise the light and will thereby undo all our attempts at cooling down the house.
Hey ho!
Mr Amazon has delivered a big tower fan to our home. 🙂
Got up at about 6.30 and opened both front and back doors to allow hot air to be replaced by cooler air. Had to shut them when I went shopping but opened them when I returned and had breakfast. At 9 I had an online school Finance Committee, just finished.
You can get AC units that attach to the wall rather than the in-window type - I fear that installing those would be expensive though since they're permanently attached.
One thing though- next person who says to me "just enjoy the lovely weather you miserable gir" gets their face punched in while I shout "just enjoy the punching you miserable git!"
A trip to Tess Coe the Air-Conditioned is required, but I'd be reduced to a wet rag by the time I got to the car, so it'll wait until either this evening, or tomorrow...
@KarlLB - there are various portable AC units being advertised on YouTube at the moment, but beware! there are also videos revealing them as a waste of time and £££...
There’s stuff advertised on the B&Q website (diy.com) including various window adapters.
I would have thought that just as car air conditioning can operate on the recirculating setting a portable air conditioner could improve things without meeting a window outlet. Although, that said, there has to be somewhere for the heat to go. 🤔
Alternatively you can get a PVC kit to close up the window if you're using a mobile air conditioner with an outlet pipe that goes outside. This sort of thing.
Mrs Rogue worked the last two nights so has been sleeping during the day which has not been a pleasant experience for her. The thick curtains which do a good job of keeping out the light also excel at keeping the heat in. It's a shame there isn't space to put a bed in my office for her to use on these occasions.
The damp fabric thing is incidentally why I seldom go swimming. I can never get properly dry in the changing rooms so end up with that slightly damp clothing feeling. Blech!
The parcel that was supposed to be collected on Monday and wasn't, nor was it collected yesterday, required a phone call and new labels to be issued... it has just been collected now, in the last hour of the window we were given. Glad to see that out of the hall and on the way to wherever it's going.
I was out to my book group last night and several of us went to the pub to eat first. I was surprised, in the light of the immense heat, that they were still doing hot food but according to the lovely girl behind the bar the kitchen staff have regular "fridge breaks" - ie, they get into the walk-in fridge.
https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/31254-magnum-not-ice-lolly-say-most-brits
It's clearly not. It's a choc ice on a stick.
AFAIK, ceiling fans aren't commonly found in the UK, at least in homes, but I may be wrong.
I think those ones aren't true air conditioners. They have a reservoir inside that you fill up with water.
I know a church which has them. Mind you, the primary reason for installing them was to push warm air back down during the winter, instead of allowing it to fill the roof space.
When we lived in West Africa (mudbrick house, corrugated metal roof, intermittent electricity), we had ceilings which were well ventilated by a gap between the top of the walls and the roof. This let air blow through and was a great help.
Also ice lollies are water-based, a Magnum is an ice cream imo.
And they're absolute pish.
I also remember being in church when there was terrible screeching and thumping coming from the roof. We stopped the service to take a look: vultures were trying to perch on the roof but kept sliding down instead.