Are you doing anything specific to prepare for the heat next week?

[QuirkyLirky]

I was chatting to friends and a few were prepping for this. Ideas they came up with:
Checking the car so less chance of breaking down
Several bottles of water in the car and snacks
Reflective blanket for windscreen when parked at work
Buying extra water in case supply temporarily shut off
Filling the baths with water for repeated quick dips
Opening the loft hatch
Putting parasol in front of patio doors to give more shade to a room
Planning 'no-cook' meals for a few days
Ice blocks to put in front of fans
Frozen water bottles to take to school

All I could add was that I had made sure my ice cube trays were full in the freezer and I had a stock of ice pops frozen and some lollies to pop round to an older neighbour with as a good excuse to check on her.

I have good system for which windows and curtains to open and close throughout the day when I am at home but am working full days so will be out 7.00am - 6.30pm, so not really much use as they will all be closed).

I am trying to get my house as cold as possible now as it really holds on to heat or cool once its got it, so we can enter the heatwave without stored heat in the house and hopefully it will take longer to turn into an oven.

Is anyone else making specific plans to ease the days next week?

Gazebo is up on the garden for extra shade

Bottles of water frozen to stand in front of fans.
Dry flannels in the freezer for emergency cooling.
Tidied and watered the garden, to help the plants out. Put water out for wildlife. Moved some pots into shadier spots.
Good window and curtain protocol, especially cooling the house at night.
I've stocked up on cold food, and made a chilli we can heat up if anyone wants hot.
We'll be filling the bath tomorrow I think.

Using the microwave or an electric pressure cooker for food is really good. You can cook without heating the house up.

The patio umbrella across the window is a good idea.

When I was 18 I lived in Jerusalem in a room
With no aircon and slept on the top bunk. It was hell. The only thing I found to work to get to sleep was to have a cold shower then put my pyjamas straight on whilst soaking wet without drying off. Top tip for you all

Tin foiled the windows earlier to see if that helps, planning to have it all closed up and blinds and curtains too all day. Made sure we have enough eye masks for the kids and us so we can sleep with the windows and blinds open at night to let the slightly cooler air in. Have also got most of the food we need so I don’t need to do much shopping.

We’re in a bit that might reach 40 so not looking forward to this!!!

Filling up dog water bowls in the garden, and the bird bath, frequently for wildlife.

Have made homemade ice lollies with chicken pieces and chicken stock for the dogs - they love them 😁

Kids have been told they can wear light clothing rather than school uniforms Mon and Tues.

No dog walks, they can play in the garden when it cools off a bit.

I might wear some kind of hat if I go out.

^^

This couldn't be more British 😃😂

Lol. Do you work for Mi5? Why all the secrecy?

I'm in the process of moving my outdoor rabbits indoors and setting up fans in front of them for when it kicks off.

My guess is @CatCapital63195 works in a zoo or animal rescue. Possibly with Big Cats.

I admire all your planning, ive done precisely nothing!

I loved the Britishness of this post too.🤣 I may also consider a hat 😀

The dog walker is cancelled Monday and Tuesday

We got a small aircon unit last week for the bedroom because we are mid terrace in London and it was rarely dipping below 29C in the bedroom at night. We turn it on an hour before bed then leave it on another hour on timer and it's made a massive difference!

Got some no cook meals sorted for Monday and Tuesday.

Apart from that I'll be working sitting in my pants in front of a fan. I've worked outside before in heatwaves and I know when I'm lucky and will be making the most of it !

<Taps nose> say no more Secret Squirrel 🤔

CatCapital63195 · Today 13:01
I don't wish to specify exactly what
However, this week my employer & I have been directly involved with adding extra heat related protection for their end user customers. So far this week we have managed all temperature related issues adequately.
Let's hope we cope with the next part of the heat wave - fingers crossed.
Huge army of people running around in the background, plus support teams...

Lol. This is giving paper merchants in Slough.

I'm gonna get drunk on the patio with my husband even though it's a work night.

Not to mention the constant bloody crackling.
and don’t fill them to the top or they explode.

I've cooked some food to nibble on for the next couple of days, frozen bottles of squash and water. Plenty of juice and no-cook food in the fridge and cupboards.

Apparently foil on windows can crack the window if they're single glazed so we won't do that! Curtains, shutters etc all closed up. The big family bathroom is always the coldest room, even in blazing heat so DD has put some cushions in the bath and intends to lounge in there.

Water at a few different levels in the garden for birds, smaller animals etc. Also took the chairs out from under the big table on the lawn so animals can find some shade under it.

Hot air rises so all the hot air will be sucked up in to the loft and away from the bedrooms.

Air the bedrooms in the mornings and then close the curtains for the days. Leave the bedroom doors open. So the air can flow and circulate around the house.

Wear, long loose floaty clothes in light coloured, natural fibres so air can circulate around your body. Tight clothes like leggings trap the heat close to your body.

I’m SE so we are going to Cornwall on Monday for a couple of days , it’s a long standing booking and very good timing .

Bought a paddling pool, filled the freezer with lollies and have a couple of tarps to create shade over the large south facing window and patios.

Patio - singular.

I’m supposed to travel to London by train for an exam that I cannot miss. I think it’s highly likely my train will be cancelled so may be driving instead. Not looking forward to it either way.

I've done my grocery shopping for a few days (normally get a few things most days). Have done ironing and hoovering today rather than month to save exertion in heat and heat coming of iron/hoover. We're putting some small bottles in the freezer to put in fish tank, as it'll be hard to keep the maximum temperature down. Am going to move some of my plants into more shady areas and give them a good soak tomorrow evening.

Forgot to mention I've already put out a couple of low level plant pot saucers at the back of the garden, as we have a hedgehog that sometimes comes out.