The Weather

[Robbie]

Seems pleasant today, still hot but the curtains are blowing gently. I feel better today too, less lethargic. Might even go out somewhere tomorrow.

[Rhiannon]

I am now becoming one of those desperate souls who searches weather websites in the hope of finding good news about a break in the weather. The BBC seem to think that the heatwave and drought conditions will continue through til the end of July; however, both the Met Office and Accuweather are favouring slightly cooler and wetter conditions from the 14th onwards. FWIW the BBC was rubbish at forecasting the cooler weather we had on the coast last week, and both the Met Office and Accuweather got it right.

My cat is almost comatose, it is like she is drunk on UV. She lies across the path and doesn't move, so still that a few times she's been given a nudge to make sure she is still with us. Today she has given up and retreated indoors completely, something she never normally does in summer, even if it is raining.

[wigginhall]

Yes, it seems unrelenting in London, around 30 most days.   And we know damn well that when we set off on our grand tour in August, it will be wet and chilly.  Pessimist, moi?

[Rhiannon]

Don't you find you can do more if it's cooler, Wiggs? I took the Rhiannon Minors for a long coastal walk that would have been impossible in this heat, we'd have just been lying wanly on blankets in the shade. Which is what I'm planning on doing when I'm back this afternoon.

[Roses]

I reckon a hosepipe ban is likely to be imposed, if we don't get rain in the next week, which isn't looking likely.

[wigginhall]

Don't you find you can do more if it's cooler, Wiggs? I took the Rhiannon Minors for a long coastal walk that would have been impossible in this heat, we'd have just been lying wanly on blankets in the shade. Which is what I'm planning on doing when I'm back this afternoon.

Definitely.   I stagger to the allotment, where there is no shade, sprinkle a few withered plants, then hit sofa, and footy.  My wife goes for long walks, no thanks.

[Rhiannon]

Definitely.   I stagger to the allotment, where there is no shade, sprinkle a few withered plants, then hit sofa, and footy.  My wife goes for long walks, no thanks.

I have a young man working in my garden today. He hasn't stopped. Must be his youthfulness or something, I've barely been able to wash up.

[Rhiannon]

Ok, so maybe we could share some keeping cool tips. I'm going to start with one most people know - sticking a bowl of ice in front of a fan. Works on a similar principle to an air con unit.

I've also been told by a doctor that spraying bedding with cool water at bed time can help to cool the body, and is particularly useful for the very young and the elderly.

My eldest had some mild sunburn recently. We treated this by holding the area under a lukewarm shower for some time, followed by lavender compresses (made with lavender oil and water), and then a lavender lotion. Gone within two days and minimal peeling.

Mint has menthol in it which has cooling and anti itch properties. Mint actually works against nettle stings (unlike dock) and is also useful for prickly heat - just bathe with some cooled mint tea. Mint tea is really cooling drunk hot or cold, and made into a footbath is the best thing ever for hot, itchy feet and calves.

[ippy]

I reckon a hosepipe ban is likely to be imposed, if we don't get rain in the next week, which isn't looking likely.

A hose pipe ban in Wales? Now that is serious.

ippy

[Maeght]

Ok, so maybe we could share some keeping cool tips. I'm going to start with one most people know - sticking a bowl of ice in front of a fan. Works on a similar principle to an air con unit.

I've also been told by a doctor that spraying bedding with cool water at bed time can help to cool the body, and is particularly useful for the very young and the elderly.

My eldest had some mild sunburn recently. We treated this by holding the area under a lukewarm shower for some time, followed by lavender compresses (made with lavender oil and water), and then a lavender lotion. Gone within two days and minimal peeling.

Mint has menthol in it which has cooling and anti itch properties. Mint actually works against nettle stings (unlike dock) and is also useful for prickly heat - just bathe with some cooled mint tea. Mint tea is really cooling drunk hot or cold, and made into a footbath is the best thing ever for hot, itchy feet and calves.

Menthol makes you feel cooler although it doesn't actually reduce the body temperature.

I don't really have any tips - I just get hot!

[wigginhall]

Having a tepid bath/shower, and not drying yourself properly is nice.  Of course, it lasts about 5 seconds.

[Rhiannon]

Having a tepid bath/shower, and not drying yourself properly is nice.  Of course, it lasts about 5 seconds.

Going from the shower to the car and then putting the air con on might make it last a bit longer...

[Rhiannon]

Menthol makes you feel cooler although it doesn't actually reduce the body temperature.

I don't really have any tips - I just get hot!

Feeling cooler will do.

[Rhiannon]

Bad Newsthump.

http://newsthump.com/2018/07/02/hot-weather-lettuce-shortage-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-claim-experts/

[Sebastian Toe]

Go to your local supermarket and stand in the chilled food aisle. That always works for me.

[Robbie]

That sounds good. I've got to go out later, hair cut. Don't fancy it but hair needs a good tidy up.
Hotter than ever today, I slept late, had a shower and everything was in slow motion or so it seemed. Nothing is moving outside, not even a leaf.

[Rhiannon]

A half decent breeze here but my brain is foggy. Apparently it really is a thing that thinking ability and cognitive function gets affected by heat.

[Shaker]

A very few spots of rain here tonight but not the downpours originally forecast.

Though it's going to hold out at 25-26°C over the weekend and into the beginning of the week, the forecast predicts that by Tuesday we'll be back to a pleasant and comfortable 20°. Can't come soon enough.

[Rhiannon]

I like the Met Office long range forecast. Much nicer than the BBC one.

[Robbie]

Yes, marginally  .

It is hot, hot, hot! Barbecue weather, my nephew is having one later.

[wigginhall]

Also very dry.  We are off for a few days next week, and are faced with some of our plants dying on our allotment.   Ah well.  Difficult to ask someone to help as it takes over an hour.

[Rhiannon]

I have just discovered that I am aestivating.

[Aruntraveller]

Blessed clouds in Nottingham, oh the joy of shade.

[Roses]

As soon as I put the washing out a huge black cloud passed over, which isn't unusual. Normally that is irritating, but in this heat it would have been great if it had delivered some of the wet stuff, but no such luck. We haven't had any for far too long!

[Harrowby Hall]

I like the Met Office long range forecast. Much nicer than the BBC one.

Interesting. The BBC now gets its weather information from MeteoGroup, a private sector weather information provider with customers all over Europe.

MeteoGroup, however, gets its information from national services - like the Met Office.

This seems to be an extension of the UK government's belief that the private sector is "more efficient" than the public sector. There appears to be a perception that the service being provided by MeteoGroup is not as accurate as that formerly provided by the Meteorological Office. Is this a potential Carillion?