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[CLKD]

1959 was hot
I remember being in the garden in hot weather as a child, in a tin bath which Mum would top up with tepid water - no sun screen but there are pictures somewhere of a hat 
1975 and 1976 were very hot.  = ladybirds everywhere 

We have always washed fruits/veg./lettuce into a bucket for the pots.  When I had a twin tub the rinse water went into a bucket to be carried into the shaded shrubs to top them up.  Never lost a plant until this month, when I forgot to water a newly planted border 

2020 was hot throughout the year, which must have been a saver for many during the 1st Lockdown

Now 'they' are talking as though we have never experienced a heat wave.  In 1976 the Welsh reservoirs almost emptied.  "Save Water, Bath with a Friend". Well I already was, as students we saved everything 

We cannot be short of water, we live on an Island  .  What we are short of is people in the early 1960s and 70s thinking ahead.  It is not a once in a 1,000 year event!  They should have begun mending leaking pipes much earlier as well as building de-salination plants.  The excuses have always been that it would be 'too expensive' or that they wouldn't be required.

I take water to the tap for granted  .  A burst water main on Tuesday reminded me that it is a precious commodity. 

[JoJo42]

Just looked at the forecast for next week where I live and next Mon and Tues some are saying temps of 37 or 38!!! I’m dreading it! I struggle when it gets past 25. I’m worrying about it already. My husband keeps saying it probably won’t happen but I bet it does. Any tips/advice for coping, anyone? I won’t be walking my pupper and will be staying home. I’ve got a couple of tower fans and our hallway is tiled so stays quite cool. I’ll take the hall runners up so pupper can chill on the tiles and if it hits 30+ I’ll be there too.

Any tips welcome! 

[getting_old]

I remember the year of the ladybirds. We were in Blackppol and you couldn't sit on the benchs because they were covered in ladybirds.

Curtains closed and hang cold damp tea towels about a foot in front of the fans, and if finances allow buy a portable air conditioner.

[ElkWarning]

The problem is the way ambient heat is affected by humidity. Also how much heat the ground holds.

Less humidity = less ability to cope with the heat. We now have less humidity in this region.

More ground heat = hotter. We now have more ground heat.

I don't know the exact figures, but you're looking at an experienced temperature increase of something like +5 degrees C - compared to 1976.

DIY air con = soda bottles filled with water and deep frozen, then put them in front of a fan.

[jillydoll]

I over-heat really quickly, don’t sweat much, so my tip is sitting down, or laying on the bed, with a bottle of cold water, just out of the fridge, rested between your feet. I know it’s weird, but it works.
A couple years ago, I had heat stroke, very nearly passed out at the pub, but I made OH get me into the car and blast the aircon on me, took me the rest of the day to recover, and what helped keep me cool, was a cold bottle water between my feet. It was absolutely bliss. 🙂

[CLKD]

Packets of peas in an emergency.

We have a long hallway which rarely gets the sun and it's bliss.  In 1991 3 cats, dog and I laid on it every afternoon during the heat wave.  Well, I laid on the floor  .  Cats spread themselves long my back  and we slept. for hours.

I HATE humidity!

[CLKD]

My next question - do any of you have outdoor roller blinds ?  Our kitchen gets early morning sunshine ........ which reflects on the stainless steel sink and taps  . It needs to be easily retractable from inside, due to the amount of flowers and shrubs in pots below the window  .  I have stuff on the window sill inside. 

[Minusminnie]

Anyone know if Amazon have stopped orders today due to the heat in warehouses ?  we can't get an order to go to 'pay' today.  It would be understandable if they have shut down.

[CLKD]

I think some Zoos are closed.  Is there not a web-site that would explain?

What you thinking of buying ;-) ?

[Minusminnie]

A small gazebo for grandchildren to play under in some shade and ice packs for injuries all meant to be in stock. Never mind not sure i would want to be in a warehouse today. 

[CLKD]

Mum used to put a large table cloth over the gate-legged table on wet days, you're comment reminded me. 

Bags of frozen peas will do and I think that Iceland sell ice packs, as in 'blocks'.  Our village shop sells large packs of ice cubes but 1 would never know where the water was sourced from 

[Minusminnie]

Mum used to put a large table cloth over the gate-legged table on wet days, you're comment reminded me. 

I'm up for that but just getting fed up with using sheets, my clothes airers and pegs to make a shelter now they are getting taller ! 

[Ju Ju]

I remember 1976, heath fires and the fire brigade on strike and instead, soldiers driving the green goddesses. We also had a long hot summer in 1994. Ended up in hospital for the first time with asthma. I can cope with the odd day, but not if it goes on and on. Mind you, I have better meds now.

[CLKD]

I'd forgotten about the Green Goddesses! 

[JoJo42]

Brilliant tips! Thanks everyone. I bought an air cooler with ice blocks. I had the cooler going in the living room and a tower fan in the hall with the clothes maid in the hall with damp tea towels on nearby. Tower fan upstairs. I had a small air cooler in the kitchen. I kept the windows and curtains closed to keep the heat out. I drank lots of plain water throughout the hottest days and stayed indoors, going out only for a couple of minutes to put the umbrella up outside the kitchen window. Cool mat for the pupper, and a mist spray bottle of cold water at hand. Thought I was doing really well, feeling pretty comfortable and smug, until yesterday morning when I had to get up at 3am because I was shivering uncontrollably. Felt really rough, all my joints ached. By 5am I was sitting on a deckchair outside in the cool breeze feeling dizzy, white as a ghost (husband said), sweating for England and throwing up everywhere. Felt much better after a lovely cool night last night. On the sofa today still feeling a bit dizzy every so often. Much cooler today but still can’t do very much without heating up and feeling rough again. Husband went shopping and bought some of those sports drinks, just had one and really perked me up. Thought I’d done everything right. Husband and pupper are absolutely fine. Even though he tells me it’s much cooler today it still feels warm to me. Wondering if the M.E has something to do with it because I seem to have trouble regulating my body temp. Looking at small air con units online now…dreading the next heatwave, if/when it happens. Health challenges lately seem never-ending. Hope everyone else has coped ok cxxx