We took the rotten guttering off our tiny conservatory the day before the weather broke!
When is Amol Rajan leaving the Today programme please?
This is the hottest summer since 1976. The heatwave went on and on. Some areas had stand pipes because of water shortages. We were not allowed to water the garden and everywhere was parched. Do you remember the summer of 1976?
We took the rotten guttering off our tiny conservatory the day before the weather broke!
Oh yes I was 14 so still at school. Loving life (didnt know I was at the time lol), much simpler days back then . Can we go back even for just 1 day?
I hated every moment; couldn't sleep, had little appetite, hard to concentrate at work, and the part of London that I lived in then was filthy. No rain to wash pavements or houses, no window or car cleaning 'by order', it was hell. My friend was heavily pregnant and cried every day, she was so uncomfortable!
Oh yes! I had my second baby & it was a nightmare keeping him cool.
I had a toddler wanting to be in garden all the time too.
I do remember having 23 nappies hanging on the line though & he had the other one on.
I would have been much more stressed if I had known then he would suffer from febrile convulsions from 13 months until he was about 6 though.
I had my daughter that year.
The boys were 5 and 3. We had two weeks in a static caravan near Padstow and had a glorious time on various beaches, ending most days with a pasty and a pint. Just as we arrived home, DS1 was sick, and when we looked at him, we realised that he had mumps. A week or so later, DS2 followed suit, but fortunately a mild dose and they were out in the garden, wearing next to nothing - or even nothing - all day. DS1 stood on a bee and got stung, whereupon DS2 said 'I didn't get stung by a bee, so I won't get mumps, will I Mummy?'
ExH and I went away for a night or two, leaving his parents in charge. Driving around Shropshire, we were aghast at the extent of the fire damage, and the ever-present fire engines.
We had a bumper crop of tomatoes in our greenhouse and I became adept at preserving them in Kilner jars.
The boys were 5 and 3. We had two weeks in a static caravan near Padstow and had a glorious time on various beaches, ending most days with a pasty and a pint. Just as we arrived home, DS1 was sick, and when we looked at him, we realised that he had mumps. A week or so later, DS2 followed suit, but fortunately a mild dose and they were out in the garden, wearing next to nothing - or even nothing - all day. DS1 stood on a bee and got stung, whereupon DS2 said 'I didn't get stung by a bee, so I won't get mumps, will I Mummy?'
ExH and I went away for a night or two, leaving his parents in charge. Driving around Shropshire, we were aghast at the extent of the fire damage, and the ever-present fire engines.
We had a bumper crop of tomatoes in our greenhouse and I became adept at preserving them in Kilner jars.
The boys were 5 and 3. We had two weeks in a static caravan near Padstow and had a glorious time on various beaches, ending most days with a pasty and a pint. Just as we arrived home, DS1 was sick, and when we looked at him, we realised that he had mumps. A week or so later, DS2 followed suit, but fortunately a mild dose and they were out in the garden, wearing next to nothing - or even nothing - all day. DS1 stood on a bee and got stung, whereupon DS2 said 'I didn't get stung by a bee, so I won't get mumps, will I Mummy?'
ExH and I went away for a night or two, leaving his parents in charge. Driving around Shropshire, we were aghast at the extent of the fire damage, and the ever-present fire engines.
We had a bumper crop of tomatoes in our greenhouse and I became adept at preserving them in Kilner jars.
Sorry everyone, I've done it again. When I pressed the keys and nothing happened, I did it again .... and again.
All the pubs ran out of beer in Dorset!! Wonderful memories of long flowing skirts, cheesecloth tops and flowing hair!! Beach Parties and sand in everything. How I loved Studland that year!! Oh to be 19 again!! Wish I still lived there too!!
Lovely memories as a 13 year old with a few more freedoms and great friends. Just had a little reminisce and again counted blessings that still in touch with schools friends , happy times ?
I was a student. Long summer break with nothing to do. Lovely. (It was the days of student grants and being able to "sign on" in the holidays so wasnt too badly off!)
In the words of the song ''yes I remember it well'' in fact for me the 70's were the best years of my life.
I remember summer 1976 very well. I came to England in the beginning of that year from a warm country. Remember the hosepipe, washing car banned. I think some priest were brought here to chant for rain.
My posh neighbours used to bring their bathwater down in buckets to wash their cars.
They used to boast that they had the only cars that smelled of Chanel no5.
As we were urged to share baths I imagine the H got some very funny looks and maybe a proposition or two.
I was working in my first job that thankfully did not require that I wore a uniform (why are they always made out of polyester?).
I wore 3 inch heels all of the time and can still remember the burning of the balls of my feet by the end of the day and the stickiness of travelling home on the bus with only tiny windows that opened if you were lucky - more like travelling in a mobile greenhouse!
I think we must have lived on salad and cold meat for months!
My twins were just one year old and I had an older son of three. I remember being completely exhausted running around after them all in that oppressive heat!
Easily. I was expecting my second baby.
I enjoyed reading those mostly happy memories but I remember 1976 for a very different reason; my brother drowned in a local river. So sorry to introduce a sad note but this Summer reminds me so much of 1976. The glorious sunshine and no clouds in the sky. Water was turned off for hours at a time each day, but the sound of children playing, laughing, shouting and having fun in a nearby park is so different from the quiet of this time. xxx
I was in the RAF at the time ,and had cycled home to my parents on the Friday of a weekend, to ride a cycle race time trail on the way back on the Saturday , did race but ring back to my base near High Wycombe , dehydration got the better of me , I also took part in a road race the next day near my base, and again dehydration played its part , think I could have drunk about 6 pints of squash, instead of having a beer.
Mick
I was 14 and lived not far from several different beaches. It was a good summer in many ways.
Remember it well! Southend-on Sea pier caught fire and we were showered not with rain, but ash and debris!!
Lived in Hampshire. Too hot to work so decided to go camping in the Lake District where it is usually wet. Still hot. Walked up Cat Bells wearing sundress and hiking boots. So packed up and went to the East coast where there was a bit of a breeze. Visited Farne islands, etc.
That was the summer I sat my 'O' Levels. I was at a very stuffy, highly academic school (all girls). Free Study periods were supposed to be spent in the library (sign in, sign out) but it was south facing with huge gothic windows. The gasp of disbelief when the very starchy head announced one morning at assembly that those girls taking public examinations would be allowed to take their revision into the grounds to sit in the shade of the trees if they so wished during study periods. (Exit through gym changing rooms, sign out, sign in) ??
Remember it well. My German penfriend came over to stay and we spent a wonderful week in Bournemouth. It was so hot we were on the beach early and it was like being on the Continent. Happy days.
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