It’s over tomorrow, the heat is over for another year

[LaurieFairyCake]

Firstly I appreciate this is not the same for the rest of the country

but we’ve had it horrific here (London). I’ve never felt so shit in my life as I have for the last 10 weeks. I’ve spent between £250-350 a month on electricity (portable air conditioners). I’ve felt anxious, headachy, it’s FUCKED with my peri menopause (brain fog, no words, cognitive decline). I’ve felt tearful and as if it would go on forever. There are moments where I’ve thought I can’t take another moment of this. My sleep is proper fucked.

this has to change. I’ve done everything on a personsl
level I can. Air conditioners only when necessary, above 26 inside (DH has long Covid so literally throws up in heat). His asthma is exacerbated. The dogs have had the shittest summer. I’ve had a couple of rescues that can’t go out about 22 degrees. I reckon they’ve been walked briefly 3 times a week. We deliberately went away on a cheap caravan holiday twice just so they could smile. There were endless days I couldn’t work as too hot in my home office and clients cancelled.

I cannot wait til Saturday.

I hope for solidarity from others. I want to wear a fucking hoodie again. I’ve spent every day sat around in my underwear inside for vast stretches of the day. This is not sexy.

I've always hated hot weather, so solidarity OP.

But I'm in London, and it doesn't look over at all 😔 a bit less hot, maybe.

We're in Oxford and it's been horrible for the past few days - it's still saying 32C for today. We've bought all the fans we can - SharkNinja have done well out of us this summer! We live in a middle floor flat, which is great in this heat - not! I literally want to scream at everybody at the moment - can only blame some of that on being menopausal!
I fell like as soon as I've had a shower, I need another one, I've been drinking so much water to stay cool that I was up twice in the night for the loo - ended up getting up at 4.20am this morning. I'm so fed up, I could cry, hell, I have cried.
I keep telling myself that is much harder for the people who have be affected by fires etc. I've been making sure I've got cans of cold drinks in the fridge to give to any delivery drivers we've had over the past 2 months, you'd be surprised how many of them are grateful for that. Even if they take their own drinks to drive with, they've not going to stay cold for long in this heat, are they?
Yesterday, I found myself yearning for autumn and being able to use a hot water bottle!
Please let this be the last of it. Please!

Been up since 2 am. I feel like an overtired toddler now and sense I'd better not go out in public today!!!
Dh is snoring away......

Last night was so horrendous that I did what my friend in Australia does when they have a breakdown in their infrastructure during heatwaves, and that’s to wet a towel with water and lay under it. It really works, it brought my temperature and comfort level right down to the point I was able to discard it and sleep. The bed sheets were damp afterwards which probably helped too. I slept far better this way than under the pedestal fan which had been on six inches from my body.

One more day of above 30c (33c apparently today) and it's down to mid-high 20s for at least a week. Still no rain though and we desperately need rain.

I have some lovely new autumn clothes waiting to be worn so I'm counting down the days until it gets a bit cooler.

Never thought I'd ever say I've had enough of the sun or hot weather.

I’m up north so not had it as bad as many, but I’m totally fed up with it. I can’t wait for a frosty morning. I’m actually watching the weather to look for it being under 10’ overnight, as I can’t wait to snuggle into my duvet.

I wouldn't count it being over for another year.

I’ve seen several scientists say this, though and it fits with the predictions that have been right so far, Best to plan for what is likely.

Ahh. You might be up the road from me. We’re working on that fire right now. Will take months to be sorted

@LaurieFairyCake I agree and understood you. Roll on tomorrow Saturday.

Personally, I love this heat! But I can see how devasting it is to farmers and the economy, and fire-fighters. But the actual heat is no more than Spain and Greece experience in NORMAL years, this year is different because of the generally rising temperatures world-wide.

Married to a firefighter here and they’re all SO knackered from the cumulation of it. Reconsidering my stance on rain dances…

I'm not sure about your optimism OP. This heatwave is over tomorrow (thank god!), but in recent years it's been up to 30 in September on occasions and this summer started in bloody May so I'm not holding my breath that it's suddenly going to end in mid-August, just because we all want it to! I hope you're right, I really do. I slept like shit last night and I'm sitting here at 7am and the house is still boiling, despite fans and thermal blinds and us doing everything we can to keep it cool (bar air conditioners, which we don't have ... yet).

In Edinburgh and just put on a fleece to take the dogs out. Got rained on yesterday and more expected today. We are very lush and green as its “pissed doon” much of the summer. ,I usually envy you southerners your sunshine but had two days in London last month and it was a hell hole at 37C. HOpe rain comes for you soon

We will all be moaning in a couple of months about the cold and rain. I love the sun, but yes we do need rain. I’ve been watering my plants with my bath water At least it has made us aware of th e preciousness of water and how lucky we are in the uk to usually have enough water. The main problem is the water companies have not improved the infrastructure over the years and the profits have gone to shareholders instead.

I’ll join in Wednesday, we still have 30- 27C until then 🥵

Still 33 here in the south east today.

Much as I'm with your sentiments, this sadly isn't true in the south east.

I think it's deliberate misinformation to stop us all going mad!

moving north is only option . we moved from edinburgh to sheffield in 2003 big mistake. Though ive seen the odd 26 degree day in aberdeen. this summer i've had to take the kids far away up north even during school to escape.

Yes! I have written to my MP about the idiotic North Sea oil drilling plans. I am irate about it.

Our local news weather person said there’s a possibility for more 30+ temperatures, he isn’t at the position of forecasting but the conditions out over the Atlantic are ripe for it

Does anyone know what September weather is predicted to be?

Remember whilst we had warmer temperatures, ne Europe is far colder than normal. It’s a weather pattern that only occurs every so often, I don’t remember 76 because I was tiny, that was the last time like this

No point in complaining if we, as a society, don't do anything about it! Here are some things that you can do to support the climate, whilst also keeping costs low:

• buy second-hand (VINTED is a lifesaver. You can buy clothes, makeup, toiletries, etc. for much lower prices!)
• reduce meat consumption (no- you don't have to be vegan, but even going meat-free once or twice a week would make a significant difference)
• buy loose produce, where possible (plastic production contributes significantly to the fossil fuel chaos! I recommend going to a local fruiterer, if you have one, as they are usually a lot cheaper too)
• use reusable water bottles
• reuse carrier bags when shopping, or pick up a paper one if you have forgotten
• although reducing overall consumption is more effective, recycling suitable products is also a great step to begin making
• walk/cycle instead of taking the car across appropriate distances

Whilst the big corporations are massive contributors to this crisis, by reducing demand for their services/products, we can also "force" them into taking more sustainable approaches.
Ultimately, you are doing this to save your children.