Mr Nen and I are holed up in the house, all doors and windows closed and curtains drawn. Our studies are next door to each other and his is the smaller of the two and probably the hottest place in the house just now. Apart from the landing, that is, where a large picture window (and currently no way of covering it) means that the temperature there is 34 degrees, about the same as it is outside .
There's really a huge amount to be getting on with here, including sorting some of my books for the bookstall at the forthcoming Village Fete (the temperatures are apparently going to be bit more comfortable by Saturday) but everything feels like too much effort. And by all accounts tomorrow is going to be even worse .
I'll be doing a quick and easy tea - pasta and salad. Maybe Pimms on the Patio at around 10pm...
My phone weather app has just told me that the "feels like" temperature here in Chichester is currently 41° C 😲
So I just went to check our living room thermostat for its temperature and discovered the LCD display is all weird and faded. I changed the batteries but still no go. I am so hot I have very little capacity for this stuff so very rude words were spoken 😆
It's not quite as hot as that here @MrsBeaky in the East Midlands, but certainly hovering around 30°. We went out first thing and did some gardening and will go out much later and do some more. In between I've done some admin and sent the speech I'm giving on Sunday off to the organiser of the event to see if it is OK. I've also had a nap as I slept so badly last night. Tonight I'm bringing the fan that has been keeping our south facing lounge cool, up to my bedroom. One of the advantages of being deaf is the noise won't both me. Our north facing lounge is still lovely and cool and that is where I shall be heading shortly.
@Sarasa my flat is north-facing but still very warm and humid - it's a recently-built energy efficient building, which seems to translate as retaining heat but not letting go of said heat very easily! I have to keep the windows open even when the blinds are down.
The "feels like" temp is either 38c or 41c depending on the source - it says a lot that the temperature going down to ~30c on Friday will feel like a huge relief.
Despite the heat I went straight to sleep last night, only to be woken by a police car in the road outside. I looked out but at that moment the driver cancelled his blues and drove straight on instead of turning into the estate where all the trouble is.
This morning I shopped early for more salads, milk etc, did a load of washing , put the bins out so I don’t have to go outside to do it later. After much to-ing and fro-ing of emails, I decided to cancel Scrabble group, though I expect we still have to pay the rent. Even so, one person emailed me to say she is coming. Far too hot outside and even worse inside the room we use.
I have done next to nothing this afternoon and still haven’t decided what to eat tonight. My daughter and granddaughter are driving into London for a gig tonight. I can think of nothing worse.
@Puzzler mentioning doing washing reminded me I hadn't hung out the towels that had been washed overnight so they got hung out at about 7.00 this evening. It's so warm I expect they'll be dry by the morning.
Pots and greenhouse have had the second water of the day and the organiser of Sunday's event has added a couple of things to the speech which I just need to tidy up so I can read it fluently on the day.
Lovely breeze sprang up yesterday after the sun went down, so stayed up late in order to have most doors and windows open for as long as possible.
In spite of which I had dreadful night, with restless legs and brain.
Finally got to sleep shortly after 02:45, and woke at about 04:45. Eventually gave up trying to drop off again and went in the garden to water the pots just before 6, then sat for 1/2 hr with a cup of coffee, enjoying what was still a cool breeze.
Apart from hanging out the washing currently in the machine, the only thing on the agenda today is a nap!
Went for a swim and then shopping. On my return I opened all the windows and both front and back doors, to get a good breeze going. Then had breakfast, read paper, woke wife and got washing going. Front door now closed but kitchen window (also at front) open.
I actually ate my breakfast outside on the patio, most unusual for me. I managed to get the back lawn mown before the sun is on it, thanks to the shady trees, and put the cuttings into the full green bin, due to be emptied this morning. We were asked to put bins out at 6 am. That’s probably all the exertion I shall manage today. I now need to close the windows and curtains I opened earlier.
My son is coming over at lunchtime and I am hoping he can manage a couple of quick jobs outside, and sort something IT issues for me.
I watered the garden early and we had all doors and windows open for a time. Now we're closely monitoring all the thermometers and closing things up as the numbers start to rise. Like @Pomona , we live in a recently built, energy-efficient building intended to retain the heat, not to disperse it. On cold sunny days the large window on the landing will come into its own. In a heatwave, not so much.
Coffee morning at the village hall this morning, where I'm sure there will be much talk of the forthcoming Village Fete. If yesterday is anything to go by, the five minute walk back will just about finish me and it'll be a cool shower, feet in a bowl of cold water, and trying not to move too much for the rest of the day. Yesterday evening we had Pimms on the Patio at 9.45pm and the temperature was pleasant. As today is forecast to be Even Worse, I think the Pimms might be happening this evening nearer to 11pm.
In other news, I've washed the tea towels and I expect them to be dry on the line in about 20 minutes.
You’re making a habit of this! Do you actually intend to buy Pimms?
Nenya, we watered the garden at about midnight, so at least it got watered.
Now waiting for mr Sainsbugs van and we’re looking after youngest grandson this afternoon as nursery is closing early. An indoorsy day for him.
Mini house group later. Who knows what will follow? Thunder and lightning forecast overnight.
Van has delivered our groceries so Mrs Sioni is putting things away which I can do, if our fridge was about 50% bigger. So I perform Helpful Husbandly duties and keep out of the way,
On cold sunny days the large window on the landing will come into its own. In a heatwave, not so much.
Yes, on winter sunny days our big sunroom windows are great for heating up the whole house. But today the blinds are all closed and the windows shut.
Our new dog cooling mat is amazing! They just lie on it and coolness ensues. It's got some kind of gel in it, so I suppose if you had a bitey puppy that might not to be such a good idea. But Ted and Tatza are good dogs now and all is well.
I'm getting one for the humans for the next heatwave. 😊
This is ours, I'll get smaller ones for the humans.
Coolish and breezy in Arkland the Relieved - only 76F! - but They prophesy 98F for tomorrow...
In view of which, I hied me to Tess Coe at 10am today, and stocked up on more Essentials, so that I won't have to go out again until Saturday or Sunday.
I'm actually having a hot Lunch - FISH CAKE n'MUSHY PEAS - rather than the now customary cold collation.
Yes, I'm just on the edge of the new red warning area for Friday - but the predicted temperature of about 33c hasn't changed fortunately. Still far too hot but a lot less extreme than yesterday and today, but it won't start cooling down at night properly until Sunday...
We were up early for a delivery of a wooden planter for the garden, which arrived about 7am. The weekly food delivery conveniently arrived half hour later, so I was able to get that away before my yoga class. I now need to put the washing out whilst waiting around for a delivery. Currently 30 degrees but probably won’t go up more than another degree.
Van has delivered our groceries so Mrs Sioni is putting things away which I can do, if our fridge was about 50% bigger. So I perform Helpful Husbandly duties and keep out of the way,
Before we moved, Mr Nen always took on the job of packing the cold stuff into the fridge. He has amazing powers of arrangement and making things fit round each other. Strangely, however, since we moved and a new fridge arrived he can't get his head around how to do it - the new fridge is bigger but differently configured - so now I get that job.
Coolish and breezy in Arkland the Relieved - only 76F! - but They prophesy 98F for tomorrow...
Here today is meant to be the worst, with some respite tomorrow. I certainly hope so as I'll be baking stuff for the village fete cake stall tomorrow and the very thought of putting the oven on in today's heat makes me feel like expiring. Mr Nen is currently setting up a temporary office in the spare bedroom which is north-facing and was the coolest room in the house as the day wore on yesterday. With its own ensuite and comfortable king-size bed I'm starting to suspect he might not emerge for some time, except for meals .
Coolish and breezy in Arkland the Relieved - only 76F! - but They prophesy 98F for tomorrow...
In view of which, I hied me to Tess Coe at 10am today, and stocked up on more Essentials, so that I won't have to go out again until Saturday or Sunday.
I'm actually having a hot Lunch - FISH CAKE n'MUSHY PEAS - rather than the now customary cold collation.
No such luck in Zooport. Mercifully short journey in the car (34c) but it’s not a lot cooler indoors. Possibly a degree or two warmer tomorrow’
We try to keep the English Salad to a minimum. Frankly, we’d rather go without on some days.
Went for a swim and then shopping. On my return I opened all the windows and both front and back doors, to get a good breeze going. Then had breakfast, read paper, woke wife and got washing going. Front door now closed but kitchen window (also at front) open.
What bloody time are you getting up that there's time to swim and shop before outdoors turns into the Plains of Gogoroth?
I believe the heat is finally going to peak today. About bloody time. I watered the garden at 7 am, then did some cursory cleaning, before picking Captain Pyjamas up from school at the end of the morning. I don't think they'd actually been learning anything much - he told me they'd been reading library books and playing board games. We headed for the swimming pool again before coming home for a late lunch. I think it's now about 40° outside. (32° inside, which is the best we could do because it didn't drop all that much overnight.)
Tonight I have to go out to the rehearsal for tomorrow's concert. I'm not looking forward to it, and I'm not at all convinced anyone's going to turn up, given the heat. At least when we play the same programme on Sunday there's going to be air-conditioning.
LNER asked people not to travel if they could avoid it so I've re-arranged meeting my friend in cathedral city to the north and went to my lip reading class instead. Came home had lunch and decided to finish it off with an ice cream. That's when I discovered the freezer appears not to be working. The internet has some helpful hints as to how to cure it, but that means moving the fridge/freezer, it's a big American style one. I can't do it on my own and my husband is away until Monday. I've just been chucking things away which is bloody annoying.
Later on I'm off to an event at a new arts space that has opened in town. I was only invited yesterday so I'm not sure what to expect.
23° here today, but with a bit of a breeze to moderate it. 21° with possible thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow - hope they don't happen while I'm out in it.
Busy day at work: B sent down a mammoth voice file which took me all afternoon. Having woken stupidly early this morning and taken a while to get back to sleep, I was zonked by the time I got home, and had a snoozette before supper (more salads).
Max of 36 in Zooport today and old-timers, mostly lying in the gutter gasping, can’t understand why schools and nurseries are closed due to the heat “We went to school in all weather”. Yeah, and how many kids passed out-which is not trivial in a child. I really wonder about fellow man and the demise of empathy.
Still, should be much cooler tomorrow, but 26 is still above average for late June.
Max of 36 in Zooport today and old-timers, mostly lying in the gutter gasping, can’t understand why schools and nurseries are closed due to the heat “We went to school in all weather”. Yeah, and how many kids passed out-which is not trivial in a child. I really wonder about fellow man and the demise of empathy.
Still, should be much cooler tomorrow, but 26 is still above average for late June.
The "we had it tough so you should" tendency is weird as fuck when you think about it rationally. I mean, my old dad, for all his faults, worked his arse off so, as he put it, we wouldn't have to struggle like he and my mum had to.
Max of 36 in Zooport today and old-timers, mostly lying in the gutter gasping, can’t understand why schools and nurseries are closed due to the heat “We went to school in all weather”. Yeah, and how many kids passed out-which is not trivial in a child. I really wonder about fellow man and the demise of empathy.
Still, should be much cooler tomorrow, but 26 is still above average for late June.
The "we had it tough so you should" tendency is weird as fuck when you think about it rationally. I mean, my old dad, for all his faults, worked his arse off so, as he put it, we wouldn't have to struggle like he and my mum had to.
Ah, many of the old timers I’m talking about are often my age (recently retired), not entirely a part of the “Golden Generation”. Yup, the Brexit voters ☹️.
Yesterday I woke up at 5.00am and couldn't sleep again so went to work. The cycle ride was deliciously cool but coming home again was not. Same again today, I think.
I am wondering whether to cancel parkrun tomorrow (22-24 deg) but runners want to run. The finish area, in particular, has little shade. If we do go ahead I suspect that the walkers will be more sensible and stay away.
I was hoping we'd get some rain in the night but it passed us by and last night was one of the worst ever for heat. We've been up since before 5, all doors and windows open, and have managed to get the temperature in the house below 30 degrees; I don't suppose it'll stay that way for long.
Closing up the rooms for most of the day at present has made me realise how musty all the carpets still smell so I need to address that in the coming weeks.
We expect an early visitation from Sainz Breeze and the new sofas for our lounge are arriving this morning too so that's pretty exciting. Some dear friends we met (and lived with for a time) years ago, when our children were small, are also calling by this afternoon (we're buying one of the wife's original paintings to go on our landing) so we're looking forward to seeing them and to showing them the new house.
Baking for the village fete has got to happen today as well. Not looking forward to that quite so much .
I never thought I'd hear myself say the words "It's only going to be 37° today". It's currently quite overcast, but that at least means we're not in the direct sun and can leave everything open a bit longer to let some air in. The walls have absorbed so much heat over the last few days that the place doesn't even cool down overnight anymore and this morning it was quite a lot hotter inside than out.
As I said in hell, last night's rehearsal was the hottest I have ever been in my life. The church in question was designed by an imbecile. It has windows in the roof and nothing that opens apart from the door. I swear it was about 50° in there. After a while we all decamped to the basement to try to cool down a bit, and it was decided that what was meant to be the concert tonight is going to be the last rehearsal, in the basement. There's no way we would have survived playing upstairs, and we weren't sure that anyone would turn up anyway. If anyone doesn't get the information about the cancellation and still comes, they can listen to the rehearsal. Sunday's concert is going ahead, because it's cooling down by then (29°! Oh bliss!) and it has aircon.
@Nenya could you use an air fryer or some other less heating-up-the-kitchen appliance to do the baking?
We got just the edge of the thunderstorms at about 2am so I wonder if they were blown more sharply northeasterly over the South-West. Once it got into the early hours it was MUCH more comfortable.
I'm off to a flag raising ceremony in the north of the county this morning as part of Armed Forces Day weekend. I checked to see if it would be cooler there, and it won't. I jolly well hope there is some shade. This evening is a civic evensong in cathedral to the east of here. I trust that like most large medieval buildings it'll be cooler than @la vie en rouge 's modern church.
I hope everyone suffering from the heat manages to find some respite from the heat.
We had a sudden burst of rain at 7am but now the temperature is creeping up to 30 already, 36 expected. We live in a terraced house and it retains the heat. I think I will spend the day sewing/reading in my office.
We had thunder and lightning, with a little rain, during the night, but I wasn't aware of it.
It was hot when I went out earlier; we're "only" predicted to have 27 degrees today but I don't really believe that.
Went to a surprisingly well-attended meeting on "Faith in Politics" last night, with the Archbishop and two Senedd members, one Christian and one Muslim. Interesting except that the sound was poor in a church with weird acoustics!
Currently 17 degrees here, but it feels colder. It's forecast to drop to 16 at 1pm. We're on Flood Alert (the lowest of three warning levels) and expecting lots of rain later in the day.
Comments
There's really a huge amount to be getting on with here, including sorting some of my books for the bookstall at the forthcoming Village Fete (the temperatures are apparently going to be bit more comfortable by Saturday) but everything feels like too much effort. And by all accounts tomorrow is going to be even worse
I'll be doing a quick and easy tea - pasta and salad. Maybe Pimms on the Patio at around 10pm...
So I just went to check our living room thermostat for its temperature and discovered the LCD display is all weird and faded. I changed the batteries but still no go. I am so hot I have very little capacity for this stuff so very rude words were spoken 😆
The "feels like" temp is either 38c or 41c depending on the source - it says a lot that the temperature going down to ~30c on Friday will feel like a huge relief.
This morning I shopped early for more salads, milk etc, did a load of washing , put the bins out so I don’t have to go outside to do it later. After much to-ing and fro-ing of emails, I decided to cancel Scrabble group, though I expect we still have to pay the rent. Even so, one person emailed me to say she is coming. Far too hot outside and even worse inside the room we use.
I have done next to nothing this afternoon and still haven’t decided what to eat tonight. My daughter and granddaughter are driving into London for a gig tonight. I can think of nothing worse.
I've sorted it.
Nenya - All Saints Host, currently far too hot to do much except tiddle around online
A rather pretty shirt that I'd ordered arrived this afternoon, and it's made of cotton, so I predict it'll get rather a lot of use.
Supper was further salads.
Pots and greenhouse have had the second water of the day and the organiser of Sunday's event has added a couple of things to the speech which I just need to tidy up so I can read it fluently on the day.
At least the weather is good for something.
Indeed, although going out into the evil daystar sunbane to hang it out was a daunting prospect.
The Yellow Face! It burns us, yes, precious, it burns us, it does! Nasssssty nasssssty Yellow Face!
In spite of which I had dreadful night, with restless legs and brain.
Finally got to sleep shortly after 02:45, and woke at about 04:45. Eventually gave up trying to drop off again and went in the garden to water the pots just before 6, then sat for 1/2 hr with a cup of coffee, enjoying what was still a cool breeze.
Apart from hanging out the washing currently in the machine, the only thing on the agenda today is a nap!
My son is coming over at lunchtime and I am hoping he can manage a couple of quick jobs outside, and sort something IT issues for me.
Coffee morning at the village hall this morning, where I'm sure there will be much talk of the forthcoming Village Fete. If yesterday is anything to go by, the five minute walk back will just about finish me and it'll be a cool shower, feet in a bowl of cold water, and trying not to move too much for the rest of the day. Yesterday evening we had Pimms on the Patio at 9.45pm and the temperature was pleasant. As today is forecast to be Even Worse, I think the Pimms might be happening this evening nearer to 11pm.
In other news, I've washed the tea towels and I expect them to be dry on the line in about 20 minutes.
Nenya, we watered the garden at about midnight, so at least it got watered.
Now waiting for mr Sainsbugs van and we’re looking after youngest grandson this afternoon as nursery is closing early. An indoorsy day for him.
Mini house group later. Who knows what will follow? Thunder and lightning forecast overnight.
Yes, on winter sunny days our big sunroom windows are great for heating up the whole house. But today the blinds are all closed and the windows shut.
Our new dog cooling mat is amazing! They just lie on it and coolness ensues. It's got some kind of gel in it, so I suppose if you had a bitey puppy that might not to be such a good idea. But Ted and Tatza are good dogs now and all is well.
I'm getting one for the humans for the next heatwave. 😊
This is ours, I'll get smaller ones for the humans.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0DJSS1Q1V?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1
In view of which, I hied me to Tess Coe at 10am today, and stocked up on more Essentials, so that I won't have to go out again until Saturday or Sunday.
I'm actually having a hot Lunch - FISH CAKE n'MUSHY PEAS - rather than the now customary cold collation.
Here today is meant to be the worst, with some respite tomorrow. I certainly hope so as I'll be baking stuff for the village fete cake stall tomorrow and the very thought of putting the oven on in today's heat makes me feel like expiring. Mr Nen is currently setting up a temporary office in the spare bedroom which is north-facing and was the coolest room in the house as the day wore on yesterday. With its own ensuite and comfortable king-size bed I'm starting to suspect he might not emerge for some time, except for meals
No such luck in Zooport. Mercifully short journey in the car (34c) but it’s not a lot cooler indoors. Possibly a degree or two warmer tomorrow’
We try to keep the English Salad to a minimum. Frankly, we’d rather go without on some days.
What bloody time are you getting up that there's time to swim and shop before outdoors turns into the Plains of Gogoroth?
My wife thinks that I'm bonkers, and she's probably right.
Mind you, when our lengthily-being-refurbished-and-much-promised more local pool opens, that might change my timetable.
Tonight I have to go out to the rehearsal for tomorrow's concert. I'm not looking forward to it, and I'm not at all convinced anyone's going to turn up, given the heat. At least when we play the same programme on Sunday there's going to be air-conditioning.
🥵 🥵 🥵 Walking up the street was like walking through an oven. 🥵 🥵 🥵
I can't imagine levering myself out of bed at that time unless someone's offering me a really, really good incentive.
Later on I'm off to an event at a new arts space that has opened in town. I was only invited yesterday so I'm not sure what to expect.
The incentive is that I've paid my membership.
Busy day at work: B sent down a mammoth voice file which took me all afternoon. Having woken stupidly early this morning and taken a while to get back to sleep, I was zonked by the time I got home, and had a snoozette before supper (more salads).
Still, should be much cooler tomorrow, but 26 is still above average for late June.
The "we had it tough so you should" tendency is weird as fuck when you think about it rationally. I mean, my old dad, for all his faults, worked his arse off so, as he put it, we wouldn't have to struggle like he and my mum had to.
I am wondering whether to cancel parkrun tomorrow (22-24 deg) but runners want to run. The finish area, in particular, has little shade. If we do go ahead I suspect that the walkers will be more sensible and stay away.
Closing up the rooms for most of the day at present has made me realise how musty all the carpets still smell so I need to address that in the coming weeks.
We expect an early visitation from Sainz Breeze and the new sofas for our lounge are arriving this morning too so that's pretty exciting. Some dear friends we met (and lived with for a time) years ago, when our children were small, are also calling by this afternoon (we're buying one of the wife's original paintings to go on our landing) so we're looking forward to seeing them and to showing them the new house.
Baking for the village fete has got to happen today as well. Not looking forward to that quite so much
As I said in hell, last night's rehearsal was the hottest I have ever been in my life. The church in question was designed by an imbecile. It has windows in the roof and nothing that opens apart from the door. I swear it was about 50° in there. After a while we all decamped to the basement to try to cool down a bit, and it was decided that what was meant to be the concert tonight is going to be the last rehearsal, in the basement. There's no way we would have survived playing upstairs, and we weren't sure that anyone would turn up anyway. If anyone doesn't get the information about the cancellation and still comes, they can listen to the rehearsal. Sunday's concert is going ahead, because it's cooling down by then (29°! Oh bliss!) and it has aircon.
We got just the edge of the thunderstorms at about 2am so I wonder if they were blown more sharply northeasterly over the South-West. Once it got into the early hours it was MUCH more comfortable.
I'm on hedgehog sanctuary duty this morning, then nails this afternoon. I think I'll go for blue. 💙
I hope everyone suffering from the heat manages to find some respite from the heat.
It was hot when I went out earlier; we're "only" predicted to have 27 degrees today but I don't really believe that.
Went to a surprisingly well-attended meeting on "Faith in Politics" last night, with the Archbishop and two Senedd members, one Christian and one Muslim. Interesting except that the sound was poor in a church with weird acoustics!
There is a light south-westerly breeze, but it seems to be coming straight from the Cracks of Doom, and is not as refreshing as one might like.
Lunch will be cold CHICKEN, cold POTATO Salad, and cold Watercress.