There's something really grating about persistent heat. I feel more on edge and more tense, if not from current discomfort then from dread of the discomfort that's coming. I think of that famous Raymond Chandler line about the Santa Ana winds, making "meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks." I'm not studying my husband's neck, but I am feeling that tension.
Yesterday, it turns out, was our day of relief -- the temperatures only got to about 90º F, or 32º C. Today it's going to get up to 94º F (34º C) and although the temps start to drop after that, they drop slowly. Saturday's high will be 87º F (31º C).
I don't know why I find this so difficult. I lived in Morocco for two years with no air conditioning, and it gets a lot hotter there than here. But I was younger then, and less cranky.
I spent yesterday morning at home. I got in another good walk in the morning, followed by reading. Oh, and I finished posting all my rescued slides! (At least, all the ones I thought worth posting -- a fraction of the whole.) So I'm finally finished sorting, scanning, editing, uploading and tagging -- and the results are on Flickr in album 1, album 2 and album 3. There are a total of 573 pictures.
I will acquire more slides at some point, but I may take a little break now.
After lunch I went down to the Photographer's Gallery in Soho to see an exhibit of Japanese women photographers. I went mainly to enjoy the air conditioned space, but the photography was interesting, too. Then I spent a ridiculous amount of money on three photo books in the bookshop, including one of pictures of New York by Harry Gruyaert. I read about this book in The Guardian and it's been on my radar ever since, so I was happy to get a copy. Gruyaert's pictures are dense, layered, colorful depictions of street life and after sitting in the cafe with an Americano and paging through them, I was inspired to take a little walk (despite the heat) and take some colorful street photos of my own.
I also bought Arthur Tress's book about men cruising The Ramble in Central Park back in 1969, which I'd also read about in The Guardian, and one by William Eggleston. Photo book stores are dangerous places for me.
I'm not sure what we're going to do today. We might just go find a cafe or mall and hang out indoors. We need to go through the itinerary for our upcoming cruise and decide if we want to buy any of the little side excursions they offer when we're in port. I'm happy to just wander on my own, generally -- and knowing Dave he might not even want to get off the ship -- but I suppose we ought to at least look them over.
Off topic, I found a short video of Kookaburras laughing and scheduled it for my Sunday post.
ReplyDelete"Younger then and less cranky" Same here. I have lived in Australia since 1953 and never really noticed our summer heat until I was about 65. Now at almost 74 I am very grateful to whoever invented airconditioning!
ReplyDeleteI love those colourful streets you posted today.
I love street photos--for the buildings, the people, and the decor. It's a view of other places (cities) that I don't get in my suburban area. The dread! I understand it well. I used to hate looking at the forecast and worrying about trying to keep the house cool (haha) and how to sleep upstairs in the bowels of Hades. With the heat pump, that stress has gone away, except now I fret about my grandsons who don't live with heat pumps/ACs. I like side excursions but not overly planned ones. My Rick Steves tour includes lots of free time as well as the informational trips that are included in the price of the tour.
ReplyDeleteIs it one of the Carry On films where a guy on a cruise never gets off the ship but just drinks the alcoholic beverage of the country they are docked in?
ReplyDeleteThe first photo, a new look hi-viz?
ReplyDeleteSecond photo, it is sunny and hot, so why isn't the overhead shade pulled out at the venue? If not in your current weather, then when?
I think I've picket up your grumpiness. It is only 11/51 here, cold for us. As we age, we seem less tolerant of weather extremes, and moan a lot more.
If I was a food deliveryman, bombing around London on a small motorbike, I might also put my faith in a T-shirt that read, "In Jesus We Trust". Survival is everything...but please stop moaning about the heat - it's so delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe first picture is such a great composition - straight, geometric lines and a few bold colours in one half, organic shapes (people, plants) and many colours in the other. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThe heat is getting to people here, too. We're having 35/36C in Ludwigsburg right now and are to expect up to 40 tomorrow; record-breaking for this time of year in this part of the world, and - as in your area - not many have A/C in their homes or even their offices.
What makes it most difficult to me is the ongoing warm nights; no matter that I keep ALL windows wide open all night, the air just doesn't move and the warmth in my flat just doesn't shift, making it difficult to get sleep, while at the same time work has not become any less demanding. But next week cooler temps and FINALLY some rain are forecast. I can't wait, and I can only imagine how relieved gardeners and farmers will be, let alone all those animals and plants out there.
I am not a good one to deal with heat. All I can say is thank God for AC.
ReplyDeleteAbout 20 years ago we spent two or three nights in a Holiday Inn in London, without air conditioning, during one of those, oh it never gets hot like this weeks. AC and elevators are on my must have list. A nice reverse cycle wall mounted room unit would buy so much comfort.
ReplyDeleteHigh heat with no relief for several days is very stressful. I totally understand and do not tolerate heat very well. Living in AZ for less than a year then moving back to MA was my escape.
ReplyDeleteI love photojournalism! Your street photos are outstanding.
Your upcoming cruise sounds wonderful. Being on the ocean is usually cool and ship cabins are air conditioned.
Holy Smokes !! Fantastic Post !! So Dig Your Out & Abouts
ReplyDeleteAdventure On ,
Cheers
I've found heat is much harder to deal with in older age, too. I just won't go anywhere when it's 95°f or more. We also typically have high humidity, so that counts.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that line of Raymond Chandler's is one of the best in all of literature.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with your found slides. I could spend hours looking at them, wondering about the stories of the people, the places.
I'm pretty sure that as we age are absolutely not able to tolerate temperature extremes the way we could when we were young. I have heard a theory that as the temperature reaches human body temperature, we become increasingly erratic and more prone to anger. I wonder if this is true. At the very least, extreme discomfort can mess with our sense of wellbeing.
I really like your colorful street scenes.
I promised that when it got hot here, I would not complain after our awful winter. Observe yes -- "Boy, it sure is steamy today!" -- but not complain (there is a difference, or at least that's what I keep telling myself. So far, that's not happening but they said it will be 90 by July 4. So, we'll see if I keep that promise. It's especially hard when it's humid too. But easier at the lake, where you can always go jump in if need be! At least the rain will stop. I forgot where your cruise is headed. Is this a riverboat cruise? Today is more yard work. It's ugly out there (weeds almost to waist) and the new mower doesn't come till Saturday. I won't be ready for it!
ReplyDeleteYour street photos are great, Steve. There are so many details to discover every time I look at them.
ReplyDeleteDon't you at least have fans to help move the air about in your flat and create a little breeze? If not ceiling fans, floor fans which come in all sizes and shapes. Your street shots are great. I like all the rad paper lanterns.
ReplyDeleteIt has been unbearable the past week or two in Central Florida. But then again, it will be until October, except for a hurricane or two that might cool things down in September.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the street photography. Both New York and London are great spots for street photos. I don't see that many options here in Phoenix. For one thing, we are seldom out of our cars.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding the heat less easy to take as I age. I'm spending way too much time at home these days.
It's our 3rd day in the red warning area, it was far to hot to dleep last night and 24°at 8am, I'm not built for this heat.
ReplyDeletethe slides that you have retrieved and posted are scrumptious. Entertaining! Better than literature - one can use one's own imagination to fill in the stories. As fore heat, I am not adapted to it, being so far north and loving the cold! In. the genes , I guess. The sun is not my friend ,light is, but not the fire! As a southerner, you probably adapt better than most!
ReplyDeleteYour first photograph is so cheerful - it's the yellow that does it, I suppose. It is nice to see people out and about, looking happy.
ReplyDelete