the heat

We are frazzled in Birmingham.

We took out our very grumpy overheated 2 yo to Ikea this morning. She screeched her head off and did the full 'terrible twos' tantrums - including throwing herself on the floor! Most of the other customers just smiled or gave us knowing nods. She played with the toys for a while which was a relief until we had to take them off her!!
Thankfully she went straight for a nap when we got home so we are just resting until she wakes and starts again!

Looking after little Gdcs in their home at the moment. It's like an oven here (Oxfordshire). In their garden is one of those oblong paddling pools, with the end of a slide positioned at one end, so you can slide in and splosh. I'm seriously tempted...

However one of them (3) is asleep on a sofa with dh - also asleep! - and the other (4) is watching something on dh's phone - probably Barbie Hair Salon or some such ghastly rubbish she loves. However she's quiet as a mouse - anything for P and Q in this weather!

All blinds closed since this morning, and this house is usually cool anyway.Cotton dress on, fan on, drinking lots of iced water and have just been doing crosswords with teenage DGS who is here for the day.
It will be a cheese and ham salad this evening with baguette.

Reading 35 in the shade in our garden at the moment. We are indoors at the back of the house which faces North.
I am doing some crochet but not the large blanket I have on the go.
Had small salad for lunch and out for a meal with my sewing pals this evening. Drinking lots of water.

My dd has been sent home from work because of the heat - on the way home, she rang to check we were drinking plenty of water. What a sweetheart she is.

I'm wilting. I need to vacuum but it's too hot. I'm lolling about doing some hand sewing but that is it. Drinking lots of tea to keep hydrated.

My husband is sitting outside and has just said "It is raining!".
We are in South East London, by the way

Jobs and shopping done by ten this morning. We live in a coastal village in Northumberland, so I'm sitting out in garden enjoying the breeze.
However the only thing spoiling the day is the swarms of tiny black flies ( Thunder flies we call them) they get everywhere- specially in my curly hair (even with base ball hat on).
However its lovely to have some summer at last, and freezer is loaded with ice lollies.

I’m going to the dentist ?

Thanks for the tip, giulia. I have just bought some blueberries so in the freezer they will go.

And I might just drop one or two in my 6 o clock G&T.

One small treat I give myself in the evenings here in Rome (we've been having from 34 to 38 degrees here for days): I buy blueberries, rinse them and then freeze them.
About 15 mins before I sit down to the news on tv in the evening I take a bowl and put in a handful of the frozen berries. When I sit down, they are STARTING to defreeze. I pop one on my tongue at a time and just let them melt in my mouth. Cooling and very healthy.

You can do the same with raspberries, which also freeze well. I sometimes mix the two.

Where are you Doodle I will join you. 38 degrees here. Too much for me.

merlot managed to stop mine continuing to dig a soakaway this morning. Apparently it was ok because it was in the shade. Got him out of his thick winter shirt and working trousers a couple of days ago. Doing well.

I'm sure that reads wrong - by 'stuff all' I mean 'nothing'

All curtains drawn here so the house is not too bad. Washing has dried in record time....now have I the strength to wash the dog....Probably not!

We have had the central heating on for part of the morning.
(Our boiler was being serviced.)

I’m on holiday. It’s chilly, grey, overcast and might rain ?

The met office is forecasting 30 degrees about 4 o'clock this afternoon, here at the top end of the Pennines. It was 26 in our hallway (with the door open) earlier. We have quite a strong breeze which is helping to make it feel more bearable. Nonetheless, I'm doing stuff all this afternoon and waiting to enjoy the thunderstorm that's supposed to arrive at teatime.

Make sure your " wees " are a pale lemon colour.
.
Prawns thawing for sandwiches and I have an orange in the 'fridge for afters----it's a large one ! That'll do me.
No going outdoors, curtains closed but still that lovely breeze blowing through now and again. I'm not hot and my skin is cool to the touch but I feel sorry for those working in it or are having to travel .

Sounds like my DH. Always cords and long sleeved shirt, whatever the weather.

I believe Yorkshiremen are hard wired to moan about the heat whilst doing nothing to try and keep cool.

I've managed to prise DH out of his work cords and dark red tucked in shirt. He's now sitting by a fan, in a pair of very light weight shorts (they're actually meant to be swimming trunks!) and a loose fitting shirt.

Lunch was a delicious cheese and melon salad and there's a fridge and freezer stocked up with cold drinks, ice cream and home-made ice lollies.

Guess what, folks? He's still moaning. grin]

As I often whinge about here I’m not a good sleeper. In this weather it’s a blessing because I did all my housework before 7 today. Then off to aqua aerobics (feeling smugly saintly ?) called into M&S for their crusty French stick for dinner and lost it so no crusty bread for us and it’s too hot to go out. Now I will sit in a darkened cool living room with dyson on full blast and watch the rest of ‘The Crown’ I may well finish my book later in the afternoon. Oh the luxury of retirement plus a few days without grandchildren, bliss, bliss

Its due to be 34 degrees but feeling like 37 by 4pm today here.
I'm in for the day.

It's nice here in the Scottish Borders. max 28C today but there's a gentle breeze. Perfect .....sorry.
I am feeling sorry for you Southerners in the blistering heat.