We had a long weekend on the Isle of Wight and it was one of the few places in the entire country where it was dry and reasonably pleasant. On Sunday it reached a positively balmy 18 degrees, with a pleasant breeze. I sat on Shanklin beach for an hour and managed to get a pink forehead, cheeks and nose (l have skin that is as fair as it is possible to be). Our final day was Monday and it was dry but the temperature was down to 13 degrees. Since our return, the rain has held off, but it has struggled to reach even 15 degrees. I think it is much colder today. I am still wearing a vest and need a hot water bottle in the evenings. We, too, have had the heating on. I don’t like extreme heat, but the typically English summer temperatures of 20-24 degrees would be very welcome.