To ask you how on earth we can cool down a bit?

[TheHouseOnTheLane]

It's 40 degrees here in South Australia. I have the crappy air con on but it's a shitty one and barely touches the surface. The blinds have been down all day...we're drinking loads....what else can I do?

We lived in heat like this for 20 years it can be brutal.
Make sure to keep all the curtains and windows closed on the side where the sun comes up in the morning, open the shady side curtains if you have the a/c off overnight.
Then close the curtains as the sun comes around, so it doesn't get a chance to shine in.
Turn the a/c on before mid day if you have it off overnight.
We used to set ours at 82f So about 28c
Limit the amount of opening and closing of exterior doors.
Only open curtains on windows when there is no sun on them.
Never open the windows when the heat gets going for days on end if you have central a/c with ceiling vents.
Ice lollies, cold drinks, water jug in the fridge all day and cold food for dinner so you don't heat up the house with cooking.
Lie about and watch movies about snow and Christmas.

Get some of that reflective window film from Bunnings, stick it on the sun facing windows, stops some of the heat. You can remove it when you move out.
Have a cold shower just before you go to bed.
Wear a wet towel over your shoulders and stand in front of a fan.
Hang up wet towels all over the house.
Facecloth and water bottle beside the bed, if you wake up hot, soak the cloth and wet your legs, arms and face.

Feel your pain - we're in South Africa and it's 41 today.

I've spent most of the time lying on the tiled floor - but then the cats think it's a game and lie on top of me.

I'm looking forward to Christmas in Perth with the Freo Dr to cool down

How's it going, House?

The last day of term today saw me celebrating with a dog walk on the beach to cool off. Soggy doggy, very happy.

Nearly 9.00.p.m.in Melbourne and so cool. Dreading the 41 tomorrow and see that all films between 3.00 - 6.00 at the local cinemas are sold out.

echt it's much better thanks....since I was told on this thread that the air con has to go on in the morning BEFORE it gets too hot....it's actually been working!

We've been to the beach nightly and tonight once the sun was low, to a beautiful twilight market which had some lovely things on sale and music too. It was so bloody laid back! Lovely.