The magenta spreen lambsquart is back! It returned all on its own, two of them, growing in one of our planters. Not really a surprise since it's an amaranth, which is known as a tenacious weed. But I like it.
We were back up to 92º F (about 33º C) yesterday, similar to the day before. Somehow it didn't feel quite as oppressive, though. Maybe I just got used to the heat. Still, it was the UK's highest-ever May temperature for the second day in a row, and I'm relieved that today we're only getting up to 79º F (or 26º C).
Yesterday's comments about air conditioning were interesting. I think one's comfort with a/c all depends on what you're used to, don't you? In my home state of Florida, where it's not only hot but incredibly humid, a/c is a blessed relief. Walking into an air-conditioned space on a hot summer day is like a religious experience. I don't know how my ancestors ever lived there without it. (And yet they did!) At least here in England the humidity is nothing like that. I checked yesterday and it was somewhere around 32 percent, which is half what it was yesterday in Tampa -- and it can go much higher there.
Anyway, I couldn't get motivated to get on the tube and deal with the urban crush in that kind of heat, so I just stayed home. I sat out on the garden bench in the afternoon and had more watermelon, and read "The Hunting Party," which I've almost finished. It's an entertaining book but I don't think I've ever met a more distasteful cast of characters in my life. I'm kind of hoping they all get murdered.
At one point I looked up at Totoro, hanging in the tree overhead, and admired the green bead that now functions as his bell clapper. I found that bead in the cemetery more than six years ago and wired it to Totoro to replace one that was lost. It has worked out pretty well. Poor Totoro has had quite a dramatic life in our garden.
I also spent part of yesterday arranging for someone to repair Dave's recliner. The other day he pulled the lever on the side of the chair to get it to recline, and the handle broke. This is a crisis. Dave is now unable to recline the chair, which is possibly his favorite place in the entire world. So I communicated with a repair guy and sent him pictures and he said he could do it, but he has yet to schedule his visit. Hopefully it can happen soon.
In the late afternoon, I took a walk. I felt the need for some exercise so I walked up to and around the cemetery and back down through the neighborhood on the other side of the high street. I was proud of myself for getting out and about.
Dave had a concert last night so I was on my own for dinner. I had some leftover chicken, made a martini and watched an "Absolutely Fabulous" movie, "The Last Shout," which I have already seen approximately 600 times. It was a good conclusion to an extremely warm day.
I can handle heat once I become accustomed to it (usually just in time for autumn to arrive) but humidity slays me. I wonder if the repair man is waiting for you to suggest a time and date? Or to ask when he can do the job?
ReplyDeleteApparently sales of fans and AC have gone crazy but with our mixed weather this might have been the hottest days and maybe no more so hot all year!
ReplyDeletePopulous Florida as we know it today would not exist without air conditioning. It's the same over in The United Arab Emirates. There would be no Dubai without aircon. This begs obvious environmental questions about excessive use of fossil fuels. Our little house has remained perfectly comfortable during our current heatwave. I was lying when I said that all Yorkshire houses have aircon units and whippet kennels.
ReplyDeleteOh poor Dave, I can imagine his face when the handle broke!! Alan would be bereft without his recliner, as would Ginger. Our old boy cat needs the lower part of the footrest to gain access to the sofa.
ReplyDeleteWell it is not as bad in the cooler North and our house faces north which keeps its temperature low. London was baking and the stations seemed airless but the air conditioning in the trains was welcome.
ReplyDeleteThe humidity is the key.
ReplyDeleteApparently Kew has recorded a highest ever night time May temperature of 19⁰C
Being an Amaranth is it edible?
I had to laugh a little at all the comments yesterday that were so dismissive of a/c and how much Americans use it. I'll defy anyone to come to South Carolina for a couple of days in the summer and try to do without it! The humidity is the killer. Someone described it as taking a hot, steamy shower and putting your clothes on...without drying off!
ReplyDeleteThat handle is essential, this is not a chair after all. Well done Steve, I hope it gets fixed pronto.
ReplyDeleteThis heatwave is so early! We know how to keep cool without a/c (shut windows and let all blinds down during the day etc.) and have a cool basement if the night temps don't go below our personal tolerance level - we've slept in the garden a few times, too.
You likely just need a pair of Vice Grips. I once operated an easy chair in our college apartment for the better part of three years with just a pair of those after the handle broke.
ReplyDeleteThe retiree sounds like he living a very relaxed life. Don't you feel the need to volunteer to do some good works, or walk canal paths daily?
ReplyDeleteSouthern England may only get a few really hot days each year, but gosh, I remember how horrible it was in London without a/c during some hot weather. That was before and after our five countries coach tour. Our Greenwich North hotel had aircon before we began the tour, but our hotel after our return in Old Street did not and it was unbearable. Brand new electric fans were delivered to all guests. They helped a little.
I think hot weather impacts each person differently. I believe three days of 90+ degree weather is considered a heatwave. In MA, many cities and towns open cooling centers for people that do not have a/c. High heat can be a health risk.
ReplyDeleteYour amaranth is striking with the edged leaf and colorful center. Having a few or even a dedicated bed would be attractive.
I hope Dave's favorite chair gets repaired soon.
You're so right about AC and what people need. We had hot humid days last week and everyone was complaining about it. I asked if they have AC and what they set it to, and nearly everyone said 68. They died when I said we kept ours at 80, but then we also have ceiling fans that move the air.
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted 68 on an AC I'd just move into the refrigerator.
I agree, Bob. 68 is ridiculous. When it's 100 degrees and humid outside, 78 feels good. The only time we go lower is when it's not that hot out but the humidity is high, and then we might bump it down to 74 or 75 just to dry out the house.
DeleteI feel for Dave. When your "spot" is disturbed, it's really not at all fun! Good for you, following up. If I lived in Florida, Texas or anywhere south in the summer, I'd have a/c, mostly because of the humidity. That's what gets you, so I'm glad you don't have to contend with that. I like Totoro's "beaded bell."
ReplyDeletePoor Totoro! I hope he will have a more peaceful existence now.
ReplyDeleteA broken recliner is an emergency.
ReplyDeleteTrue about humidity. I live in NJ where humidity is a feature along with heat. When I put on the ac later on a hot day, it's to reduce the humidity. I set the thermostat at 82°f and have fans going. Too expensive to run it a lot.
ReplyDeleteA couple of July trips to Washington have not been much different in terms of heat and humidity from home.
But the San Francisco trip one August had me wearing almost everything I brought, at once!
Up here, it is quite rare to experience such hot temperatures, but it does happen occasionally, thankfully short lived. Our bedroom is up under the roof on a mezzanine level added to the church on its conversion and so retains all the heat, even with the skylights open. The last time we had a heatwave it was very uncomfortable for sleeping upstairs so I slept downstairs on the sofa where the temperature was considerably cooler.
ReplyDeleteI saw an article in the Times about the current heat wave in Europe. It's good to hear it's come down some today. Here's hoping that repairman arrives today.
ReplyDeletePoor Dave! I would call the repairman again and find out when he can come to fix it.
ReplyDeleteHope it cools off a bit!
We keep our air conditioner at 78 and sometimes that feels a little cold to me especially where I sit on the couch the air blows right on me. I'd be comfortable at 80 as long as there is no high humidity. One of my first jobs was at a department store that was frigid. Coming in from summer heat and humidity to freezer temps is not good for health imo.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through the comments, I can attest to what Jennifer and Bob have said, "it's not the heat, it is the humidity." Here in Virginia it has been very humid this week with humidity levels in the 90 percents. And like Bob, we keep our AC at 80 with ceiling fans going. Putting it at 68 is a waste of energy in my humble opinion!
ReplyDeleteLow humidity makes all the difference. That’s usually how it is here during the heat of summer. So 105F only feels like 100F. I can’t imagine living here without AC.
ReplyDeletePats and Eddy will always bail me out! No matter what sort of coma I am in.
ReplyDeletewhen London heats up I find it unbearable, there is not enough air circulating.
When we lived in Australia during the heat we soaked hessian bags in water and hung them everywhere, the breeze through them cooled us off successfully. London is a different matter- Too much pavement. Florida trained you well for climate change!
We've grown dependent on AC. I believe our ancestors handled it because they didn't know the alternative.
ReplyDeleteIt was only 70 when I walked to the pond this morning, but the humidity was 93% so of course I was sweating by the time I finished. It didn't help that I battled deer flies the whole time.
I talked enough about AC yesterday. I'll just say that mine is running as we speak.
ReplyDeleteWhen Glen's recliner was broken, life was not so sweet around here. A new one was found fairly quickly.
I have a recliner and it's so easy on the back! I feel for Dave and hope it can be repaired soon. I've heard that humidity isn't as critical to comfort as dew point although I don't really understand dew point very well. I know that, no matter the temperature, I'm miserable in humid climates and would prefer not to live in one.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what totoro is. I'll have to look it up.
ReplyDeleteTechnically the new house has AC, but apparently it broke in the main room just as we were buying, the two in the other bedrooms are ancient window varieties and our bedroom and the living room need a good service so an aircon guy visit is in our future -however the screen door guy is also someone we want to see because we prefer breeze to aircon if possible, having used that method for all the years prior.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1976 heatwave we used to walk to Mark's and Spencers across the road (we lived just off Baker Street in London at the time) and spend hours browsing the chilled and frozen food; we had no intention to buy, but it was the coolest spot in the city.
ReplyDelete