Heatwave Support Thread Part Three.

[Zov]

Can't believe we even need a third thread. The summer heat really has been relentless hasn't it? Since mid May virtually, we have had unprecedented heat, 4-5 degrees Celsius hotter than predicted most of the time, high humidity, half the country in drought, constant record breaking temperatures, and 30 degrees Celsius or higher, on more days this summer than ANY other summer.

And there doesn't seem to be any end to it, anytime soon!

Some people are just about coping, and some people are really struggling, especially those with underlying health conditions.

Here's a thread where everyone can get together and have support each other.

By the way, as the poster who submitted the previous thread said... This is ONLY for those who hate this heat, and heatwaves, and struggle to sleep because it’s unbearable, struggle to be outside in it, and struggle with it inside their home too. And for those who feel ill from the heat.

People can come here for a moan .. hot weather lovers can start your own thread!

I was berating myself for being idle and apathetic and then we had two days with reasonable temperatures and I felt like my usual self and got loads done without feeling that my brain was going to melt.

I'm away in the north atm and its been like heaven 💙
Green grass! Trees, flowers, all blooming! Breezes! Temps of 17/18.
I am dreading going home to 30 degree temps next week.

I haven’t done housework for a while because of either my health or the heat and I know that isn’t good but I have to prioritise myself

I actually crave the darkness. I find the summer sunlight far too intense and often compare it to cheap gaudy polyester fabric in contrast to the mellow hues of autumn. It makes me feel slightly cooler if i walk into a darkened room.

And we live in an area that's seen lots of wildfires - not close to us, but drifting smoke from 20 and 30 miles away! It's strong enough to wake you in the night and send you running to close the windows...

And idiots are deliberately or accidentally lighting new ones... 🙄

It was mentioned on the previous threads but flats have thermal bricks They soak up the heat during the day and release it into the property at night. I have more than one bath a day. I have to but i do sometimes leave the same water in and keep getting in and out but change it if im washing my hair

Same here I see it as simply trying to survive living where i do

Moan incoming.

I am Irish (half). Pale with red in hair. I burn.
I am menopausal. Not so much the hot flushes, just wonky in the heat all the time.
Can't sleep. Sleep is always bad but it's wrecked now.
Appetite is screwed up in this heat.
Brain fog worse.
Have to keep two family members safe in this heat. Neither make good decisions re the weather. It's me freezing the water bottles and ensuring hydration and rest
I hate all the noise. Soon as it's this hot the work starts. Road diggers everywhere and I mean absolutely everywhere.The funsters who have to screech because they're in the park with a fucking electric scooter.
No break from traffic even in the park.
I hate electric fans. More noise.
The Aircon in my car is great at first. Then it makes my neck stiffen. I hate the smell (noone else seems to be able smell car Aircon). I hate that noise too.
It's bloody impossible.
Garden looks awful. So parched.
Baby birds have fallen out of our tree dead. I am livid at that.

https://theconversation.com/heat-deaths-are-a-public-health-crisis-rooted-in-housing-inequality-287426

Apart from the struggles with the heat, all the wildfires are very worrying. I have been really upset seeing the 1000s of square miles of land burnt to a crisp, not only in the UK, but all over Europe and other parts of the world. And it's devastating to think of the 1000s of birds and animals that have perished.

As someone said earlier, it's biblical and dystopian. What worries me (and I think some others have said this) is that this is only the beginning, and this weather is not going to be freak weather any more, but the 'new normal.'

When DH and I and the kids went to Spain in the mid noughties (2003 and 2005) we (and the people who lived there - the actual Spanish) thought 28-29 Celsius was hot. And it was. There was none of this 42, 43, 44 Celsius and higher. It's outrageous heat. Even the mid 30s Celsius we have been getting in the UK is too much!!!

No-one can withstand this long term, and most landscapes and terrains can't either, as we have observed with the fires, and the washed out pale yellow grass and fields everywhere! Farmers are using winter feed for their cattle as the grass is dead/not growing, and many of their crops are withered, or only half grown. Potatoes the size of plums, and other root veg just rotting and withering. I walk on what is left of my lawn, and it crunches! Grass is not meant to crunch FGS!

.

If this is going to be the new normal for weather then we need to be having cooler houses which is a must. I don’t just mean AC but somehow build houses cooler instead of bricks which retain heat. I suggested on the other thread for them to be like that conservatory advert, cool in summer and warm in winter

I have absolutely no idea if it would be possible but anything is a start. Regarding wildfires, I believe in other countries they do a firebreak to stop the fire spreading. Maybe that needs to happen here if it doesn’t already then Suffolk wouldn’t have burned 210 football pitches in size

HAs and developers house builders etc are really going to have to buck their ideas up

I'm so scared. Apocalyptic indeed, its just horrific and I'm a summer lover through and through. I hate that no politicians across the world are stepping up and calling this crisis up as the biggest existential threat to mankind, not to mention all the animals and plants! Its horrifying to witness 😢

I did see a report about water to homes possibly being shut off and the worry about public disorder if this had to happen

Really? Surely rationing has to become a conversation? Do you all find that no one will discuss it properly day to day? I wonder if people are frightened to bits, in complete denial or just stupid?

Thanks for the new thread, unbelievable that we still need this, even my cat is getting used to the fan now.

Burnham should make a statement. We already know that the Cunt Trump wants to drill so his rich mates continue to benefit while the rest of the world burns, but burnham giving the go ahead on North Sea drilling is disastrous.

@Zov from what I've read whilst we head towards hotter summer days the reason this was bad has been the super charged el nino from hotter Ocean waters. It will last into 2027 also

I have heard something similar. The story about the el nino keeps popping up in the news feed on my phone!

I’ve just seen on a uk subreddit the heatwave is likely to carry on well into September.

Well that’s jolly news 😭

OMG! 😖

Surely it can’t continue into September?

That's what my local contact has been saying for a while, the flats don't change temperature till October in a normal summer.

I think people could paint their houses white, plant trees/bushes for shade if possible as all that paving and concrete makes a lot of heat, get proper shutters or awnings to shade windows and tile flooring indoors. I have a downstairs bathroom that's tiled and it is cooler in that room compared to the wood and vinyl planks in other rooms. Its expensive to do all that and hard for renters but its cheaper than rebuilding all the housing stock. Even adding solar panels to your roof can keep your roof cooler too.

We have exactly that combo: AC in 2 bedrooms and the living room and it’s been a godsend during the hottest days especially the bedroom. If you can get a good nights sleep, you can face anything. We use shading / open and close windows and the rest before putting it on but there comes a point when that’s just not doing anything.

We’re having our first annual check and it was tricky to find a time the AC fitter was free because he’s been so busy