105 in the Shade

Yes you read that correctly, it was hotter than a hot thing yesterday😁, .I bravely ventured out for a few seconds every hour, on the hour to change the water in the birds bath,. I know drinking hot water is supposed to be good for us weird humans(mainly laced with huge quantities of caffeine infused coffee), but my birds like theirs chilled😁, as do the wee insects, Ive been putting water out for daily,…..the continual climbing temperatures were at best oppressive, just walking from one side of the flat to the other soaked me to the skin, (believe me this place is tiny, so two steps and I was dripping).

I kept the curtains drawn right against the sun most of the day, but the heat and it’s ever climbing temperature was to prove unrelenting, and of course there’s no escaping it, every room and everything felt warm to the touch, . Laying about sipping ice cool drinks is pretty much all you can do…. And believe me when I say i did…

That morning I had washed in cool water which felt glorious on my skin, the same skin just moments previously had felt, (the only way I can describe this is like it was burning, . The effect was only temporary though as once i dried the heat returned, And as the sun peaked the heat only became more intense, climbing to a record 105.,. i am not the best with heat, I must confess, And years ago, the old me would have flown into a blind panic, although this in truth did test my nerves, I think I acquitted myself quite well all things considered, choosing to concentrate on keeping the birds watered, then cleaning out my tower fans, because everyone on the hottest day since records began, turns their fan off to clean it😁,.. I had ordered canned air for this very task, And by placing another fan, turned on behind my tower, blowing the canned air through the slotted vents, it turned out to actually work better than I could have dreamed, I now have one spotlessly clean fan,,, ok I now had one face full of dust bunnies,my hair, t shirt, sofa, floor, tables but least the inside of the fan was clean right!!!?, It’s all a massive learning process this living alone 😁…..

That evening felt even more uncomfortable if at all possible, I felt myself become tired, irritable and dreading trying to sleep, I had three fans on constant, the noise sounding some what like an air craft hanger, filled with old spitfires, propellers spinning, engines droning, . I placed ice in front of each of them in vain hopes of cooling the air they blew, it just melted quicker than I could replace it and did nothing…in the end I soaked wash cloths, put them in the freezer and lay them on my burning legs, it bought some mild relief…

Sleep flirted shamelessly with me, my exhausted eyes stinging, then shutting for mere seconds, those weird mini dreams played, then Bing my eyes flew open, every piece of me touching the sheets felt on aflame, wet and sticky, I gave up on any thoughts of sleep finally after three hours, I lay watching a drama on prime, that and just watching the clock hands spin it’s web of seconds,then minutes,until it came to hours,, a large long legged spider threw huge shadows as she climbed the wall unflinching of the heat, and not caring I was here suffering, heartless I tell yah 😁, every now and again I looked out the window upon the darkened street, hopes of the promised thunder storm fast fading, I eventually lay back down and wether from exhaustion or the heat took over, I fell into a restless sleep….

I woke a couple of hours later, my eyes feeling full of grit, not sure if it was from sleeping with the fans on or lack there of, but I didn’t care anymore…all I knew was I needed coffee, to fling open the Windows and let whatever little air was on offer into my stifling room, I needed to breathe, I needed some form of let up from this endless heat, .that I could do little about, but what I could do, what I could control, was coffee, the kettle clicking on is the most spectacular sound to me,, while I waited for it to boil I threw water over my face,neck and hair, …I looked outside to see if my poor plants had recovered any from the merciless sun, the tiny pink, peach and white heart shaped petals of my impatients had all turned a crisp brown, tomato plants had curled up their dark green leaves, almost like in an effort to escape, lobelia had closed its tiny blue faces and leaves wiltered, I had watered them well, but it seems my plants suffered the heat too, …I felt somewhat appeased this morning, as I see they were beginning to show signs of recovery, smiling at them and assuring them today was going to be ok, I watered them willing them to pull through for me,

Bees, wasps and a butterfly all perched on the lip of my bird bath together, daintily partaking of the fresh cool water I had just changed, differences aside, they didn’t even note my presence as they drank…I hoped the poor birds would come down later, The day before having watched some pigeons panting terribly with the heat, the crows anxious caws filling the air I had found even more distressing, I felt so useless, but did my best with at least providing some cool water..,

As if the constant heat were not enough, Wild fires broke out across parts of Britain and the continent,. Hungry flames leapt upon the sunbleached tinder dry grass, taking homes, fences in one case a complete field of trees, I’m ever hopeful that we will get the much needed and longed for rain, bringing relief for all concerned…look after yourselves my friends and please please stay safe x💛x