Coping with the heat

I used to find those 4711 wipes very cooling when we used to travel abroad a lot [can you get 4711 now?]. What worries me about air conditioning etc is that the heat must go somewhere so that, although buildings are being kept cool, it's pushing up the temperature [therefore necessitating more air conditioning].

Oh, I see you can get 4711 cool sticks; I'm really wanting one of those, now. Will certainly get one for my holiday.

When I used to do a fair bit of walking in Crete I seem to remember taking a flannel with me in a plastic bag and pouring some of my water on it every so often so I could put it on the back of my neck. I'd love to be in Crete now. In fact I'm planning to go back there next year.

Get a bicycle and ride it along a riverside tow path.

Gorgeous!

I'm visiting my little GDs in London and the heat mixed with the usual air quality makes it very difficult. I live on the coast and we get lovely sea breezes and of course can take a dip in the freezing English sea. I shall join the girls in the paddling pool after school/

I sit with my feet in bowl of cold water[ also add icecubes] for about 20 mins. and that cools the blood nicely !

Good idea nonu

Sadly its not just the hot summer weather that causes me such heat related problems my internal heating system is absolutely kyboshed and has been for years - don`t talk to me about hot flushes should have been long gone and I cannot tell you how angry it makes me - always my face and head - never go anywhere without my trusty fan - phew glad to get that off my chest.

Today it was 29C, I opened a bottle of elderflower champagne and it exploded all over me. It was wonderful - straight from the fridge! So I mopped up and got rid of my top, dipped a clean t-shirt in cold water and put it on. It was wonderful. I shall certainly do that again.

I also have silk pillowcases, I am sure they help to keep cool !

Sparkygran, I think my thermostat is completely useless these days, can be very embarrassing when it is hot.

Silk bottom sheet as well really helps

I tried the tepid bath a couple of nights ago and it helped so I will try it again tonight (have been staying with DD2 in Rochester last two days).
Looks as if we'll be there again tomorrow as DD2 has awful back pain and has had to take very strong painkillers. We will be looking after DGD who is eleven months old, but I am a bit concerned how we're going to keep her cool while we take her out. I will take a cool damp cloth in our coolbag, but am wondering where we can take her during the day in order to give her mum a rest. Might have to resort to allowing her to crawl around Rochester Cathedral for a while - it's cool and shady, at least!
She won't wear a hat - pulls it off as soon as it's put on her head, so high-factor sunblock will be essential.
I'm dreading tomorrow's heat. I can't wait till the temperatures drop again. Horrible weather!

Run your wrists under cold water for a while and you will be surprised how cool you will feel, I laughed at the idea many years ago when told by a friend but it works very well.

Go to the beach! I had a wonderful day there today, it was such a relief to feel proper air again after weeks of humidity. I wish we lived nearer.

Where did you go, janer....Southwold?

If so, I'm dead jealous.

No, we do sometimes but got fed up with lack of parking. We go to Winterton-on-Sea - huge empty sandy beach, easy access, nice café and loos, lots of parking and a nature reserve for DBH. Plus a wonderful pub in the village where we have a meal before going home.

We haven't been there for years. Hoping to do a couple of B&B nights along the coast in September after the school holidays. Time for a return visit.

We keep meaning to go along that coast but something always prevents us. Hope we can get there soon.

Rain is pouring down this morning after a thunderstorm in the early hours.

Absolutely boiling here for the last few days- but as our very old house has stone walls nearly 4ft wide- it always remains cool inside (and warm in winter... the record temp. in the area being minus 41.8C!!!)- and at night it always cools down so we can sleep with windows wide open and a breeze.
We are at 950m altitude (about 3500ft)- which helps.

Well yes, it would!

23C all last night, it was dreadful. Thunder and lightning all night, but the rain didn't arrive, so am sitting here wearing very little! I shall use a spray of water tonight, I think. It worked in france on holiday last year, dampening down all the bedclothes and nightwear and self. Although I did have to repeat it halfway through each night.

If all the summers are going to be like this, I am going to buy a cooling tower fan and stick some ice cubes in front of it.

I've never heard thunder this loud it sounds like a bomb exploding overhead ever few minutes The rain is coming down in sheets and the gullies are filling up and overflowing. This is the West Midlands. Anyone else in tne eye of a storm?

Thunder now in the East Midlands. Saw lightning last night but didn't hear any thunder. Better go and see if the dog's ok in the kitchen; she might think bonfire night has come a bit early. We were in the eye of the storm at Newmarket Racecourse the other week and pretty scary it was. The rain is getting heavier and heavier .

Obviously moving eastwards Tegan my dogs still shaking. More storms moving in from the continent I'm being told.

There's the annual Beer Festival at Warwick Racecourse today!