I'm Sure It's a Repeat of the Summer of 1976

We lived on the edge of Dartmoor - and spent most of the weekends on the beach at Bantham, but during the week we used to take the children up into the moors to the river Avon running down from the reservoir - there was a large pool amongst the rocks - big enough to swim in. Perfect!

The drought and heat was unbearable for most of us in ‘76 and it is this year so far.
If it only happens every 50 years I console myself by thinking I won’t be here for the next one.

I had two pre-school children in 1976, so life is a lot more peaceful now, whatever the temperature.

When I went out yesterday I noticed that the grass was very
dry, beige and parched. Oh, for some rain, but none forecast.

The most awful thing about 1976 was seeing lush green grass gradually turning to beige/brown straw. So unlovely at the height of Summer.

I was bitten by a ladybird during the summer of 1976. It must have been desperate for the moisture on my skin. It had never happened before and has never happened since.

I'm just back from taking the dog a walk and it is very drizzly

Another ten days with no rain will equal the local record of 45 days in 1976.

I remember 76 so well and have said to family that this summer reminds me of that one.
It broke on a Saturday evening in September with a terrific thunderstorm.
We were having a fundraiser party in three gardens , we had taken the fence panels down between the gardens to make a large space and late in the evening the storm broke spectacularly.

We are forecast rain later this week and long range says next week too.

We had almost four months of continuous rain at the very beginning of this year.

Our water companies should have fixed leaks and built reservoirs.

Other countries, used to this weather, seem to manage each year to maintain/retain enough water to fill all their swimming pools and flowers and plants in public areas!

Water should never ever have been privatised, it’s a travesty!

Managed to get the house down to 25 degrees yesterday (after days higher) but it already going back up and 26 at the moment. Due to get hotter and stay like that for at least another week. No rain in sight.

I had my eldest son in July 76, I was very glad to see that summer end.

Quite a lot cooler and rather grey here today. Long may it continue

I hope so. I remember being quite ill in ‘76 with some sort of mystery virus thing - I was off work for a couple of months and just sat in the garden for days on end. Of course, in the North East we’re always cooler than down South.

Actually we are forecast 38% chance of drizzle for a few hours on Friday😄.

It is hotter, but you may be right regarding rain.