Why is everyone losing their mind about 28 degrees?

[Vipersgonnavipe]

All I have seen online today are calls for schools to shut, activities to be called off, and some sort of national emergency to be declared over a few hot days.

3 years ago we got to 40 degrees where I am, and nothing closed. What’s the madness about this time?

I agree that schools should not be mithering on about blazers, and water should be available, and sports day in full sun is probably foolish. But really, closing?

It's only a significant number of mumsnetters who hate summer.

I think a lot of people don't dress correctly for the weather. Tight jeans, trainers and tight tops are incredibly uncomfortable in the heat. I only wear loose clothing in this weather.

I am wearing this top

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E479966-000/00?colorDisplayCode=01&sizeDisplayCode=003

with a pair of lightweight culottes today.

I don’t know why so many people here seem to be refusing to accept that there is a real issue with our buildings and infrastructure just not being designed for heat. @ginasevern you mentioned Italy but when I have been in Italy the floors are stone, the windows have outdoor shutters and sometimes awnings etc, a lot of places have air-con as well, it’s just totally different to here.

‘Elderly have highest rate of mortality’ shocker

😂

I completely accept that the infrastructure here means we are ill equipped to manage the heat. I don’t accept that we’re the only country who moans about the heat. As I said, I grew up in Spain and people were always moaning about the heat! People on here have this weird ‘reverse exceptionalism’, as though British people are so much worse than other people at everything. You see it all the time. During Covid it was ‘the rest of the world are shocked at how bad we’re managing it’. They weren’t, they couldn’t care less! We’re just boringly average.

100% this! There's loads of it. UK has uniquely badly behaved children, (lack of) cleanliness, reliance on convenience food etc etc. Had quite an argument recently on here (under a different name I think) about how children on screens in restaurants is not at just a British thing.

I find it really funny. Also the how dare you expect people to speak English in resorts stuff. I get the need to be humble if you only speak one language but my experience is that it's English as a second (or third or fourth) language who are more annoyed if waiters or whatever can't speak English in touristy places. Basically nobody outside my country speaks my mother language and actually when traveling people do expect a certain level of English so they can make themselves understood in a common language.

Anyway I digress ha ha.

Yes clothing makes a massive difference, I sometimes think as long as I’m wearing just a tshirt then I can wear it with leggings/jeans and I’ll be cool but I won’t. They’re designed to keep us warm. The only time I’m probably comfortable is in wafty dresses, skirts and loose trousers

I do think a lot of British people don’t know how to dress for heat. Wandering about yesterday I passed quite a lot of people still in jeans, trainers and jackets - I saw one chap in a body warmer, FFS, and a young woman with a hoody under a leather jacket.

People can dress how they like, of course, but I hope they didn’t start mithering about being too hot!

I do have huge sympathy for pregnant women in these temperatures though. I was heavily pregnant during a heatwave with my youngest, and that was no fun.

But then, I'm constantly surprised when I hear that people are leaving all their doors/windows and curtains closed to "keep the heat out". I understand the principle, but I think heat with fresh air is always better than heat with NO air.

It's not "heat with NO air". If the air outside is very hot, it isn't feeling particularly "fresh" either. If you open the windows early to let the cooler fresh air in, then shut them when the day heats up (11am-12noon ish until about 5pm) and also close the curtains during this time so the sunlight isn't streaming in through the glass heating the place up, it stays cooler inside. It's not necessarily actually cool, but it is significantly cooler than outside. If you instead let all that hot air in, in the name of having fresh air, it makes the temperature situation a lot worse inside the home.

I asked a man I know why he wears a puffy coat even in the heat because I see it all the time with men, particularly black or asian but white too and he said it was to make them look bigger than they are, as they’ll look too skinny and small in just a tshirt. I had no idea

Because we aren’t used to it and our buildings have no air con (well, certainly most don’t). DH wishes it was like this every day 🤣

Our schools aren’t closing though.

Yes, and so many keep their curtains open in summer. I keep everything closed and windows closed on really hot days that don’t have a breeze.

Because we are now a nation of drama queens. Can’t cope with heat, cold, snow, ice… have to diagnose normal human behaviour as something, label everything, pander to everyone’s mental health…

I do wonder what the hell went wrong.

Great example of my earlier point 😂

People always moan about the heat in hot weather though?
We also moan if it rains alot, is very cold or windy....its not some kind of new thing or 'this generation' bollox, its just what people do!

Also its true alot of buildings, esp older ones in this country arent designed for heat. I work in an old victorian building that feels like an oven in this weather and only a few areas have AC. Totally justified to moan IMO.

Also Im another who wont be walking their dogs in the high twenties and beyond. They are 16 and 17 with heart failure and dementia so I dont walk them in any extreme weather as they are too frail. Not every dog needs (or appreciates) walking in super hot weather. Most dogs are sensible enough to just sleep!

Im not sensible though. I plan on walking 2 and half miles to cinema this afternoon! Planning on lots of water and sun screen and Im taking my parasol!😄

My child's school still doing sports day this afternoon no mention of cancelling.

I dont have kids so schools dont bother me.
However i dont like summer due to it makes my migraines worse.
I dont hate it i just dont like it.
But them that do like it hope they enjoy it.
I had air con fitted throughout my home a few year back so im ok.

Well said spot on.
I agree with all this.

Other nations moan about stuff too.

Same here. I'm dreading it. Poor kids.

That 40 degrees week was brutal.

This is just hot weather.

So does mine, and he’s working outside in it.

More aircon will just make the problem worse. Excessive energy use is what is causing climate change.

😂
Im losing my mind too. Thank God I lost 5 stone this year, I'd literally die covered in all that blubber and baggy layers to try and hide it.
I am wearing shorts and an oversized T shirt.

Thank you. It’s so irritating when posters claim it only “lasts a few daysthen reverts to months of rain” or whatnot. I’m in the SE and we have had the driest spring on record and it was 29 degrees on 1st May. From mid- May it’s been pretty relentless and as you say, set to continue and even to escalate.

So gaslighting and minimising this heat and how long isn’t helpful

Spring was dry and warm (very lovely) but I didn’t struggle to sleep and didn’t need a fan so I consider that just nice weather.

30 degrees in this country is what I consider hot and you need to adjust behaviour. Spells of 30 don’t last that long. It looks to be back to 20 degrees on Monday. (SE). Though heating up again for the following weekend.

I very much wish I had air con right now. If I did this heat wouldn’t bother me at all.

Last year was a pretty rubbish summer and I don’t remember struggling to sleep at all. June in particular was as bad.

Id love to have air con fitted but baulked at the costs 😱😔