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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be terrified of the coming summer?

970 replies

screamingbanshees · 10/02/2023 07:49

Last year there were 24,000+ heat-related deaths due to the heatwave, and the temperatures here were astronomical. It was the worst summer I've ever experienced, sweating constantly, sticking to every surface, always dehydrated, warm water coming out the cold tap, and sweating as soon as I stepped out of the bath. I also had a very unhappy, sweaty, screamy 1.5 year old!

AIBU to be absolutely dreading this year? Apparently the Met Office has claimed 2023 will have an even hotter summer. I don't know if I can bear it again. DP and I are thinking of booking a holiday just to be somewhere liveable. This is also the first winter I've actually enjoyed because of the relief from the heat.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
cocamoca · 14/02/2023 21:05

screamingbanshees · 12/02/2023 22:33

I bloody hope not as I'm 20.

Show quote history

oh for crying out loud I'm wetting my pants!

cocamoca · 14/02/2023 21:24

magicthree · 14/02/2023 07:37

While I understand what you're saying, you're missing the point people are making. They're not suffering and becoming unwell in heatwaves because they're not dressing appropriately, or keeping their windows and blinds open.
This is the difference between some people being uncomfortable in hot weather and extremes of temperature making people (and animals) unwell.

For goodness sake, you are living in the UK!! I know you had a few hot days last year, but surely it is not the first time you have had hot weather? You will either have to learn to adapt, or move somewhere else. Many countries have hot weather on a far more regular basis than the UK and people seem to cope. Where I live it's not uncommon to have temps in the mid-30s, but the odd time we have had temps up to 40o I haven't heard anyone carrying on the way posters on MN are. Animals also seem to cope.

no, the animals didn't cope.
Loads died, we found 2 dead hedgehogs and one that died a few days after of dehydration. I've seen less live hedgehogs in my entire life but last summer 3 died that I saw in my small area.

There were loads of campaigns asking people to put water out for wildlife as natural water sources dried up.
We put out bowls of water with ice in because the water was evaporating so quickly, at least the ice didn't give the water chance to dry up.
There were fewer berries than previous years and they were smaller.
Insects were dying and their lava drying out so the food sources for birds and other animals were also hit, as well as food.
I saw loads of dead birds around too, I usually never see any.

It was and is a problem and I hope everyone reading this thread remembers to fill bowls of water for their local wildlife (in parks too please, not just gardens) in the coming summer.
don't pour padding pool water in the drain (unless you've added chlorine), water the hedges and grass,

water plants at night if you can (using green water such as bath water) and please please get your lads to piss in the bushes not the bog! (half joking)

The animals weren't OK. it was a big worry and we made posters and stuck them everywhere asking people to water the wildlife too. People always assume animals are fine but they are not. Especially with every other garden opting for plastic lawns, bushes and flowers. They don't have a bleeding chance.

justasking111 · 14/02/2023 22:56

We have three big water butts to collect rainwater. For plants . The one outside the sitting room window started breeding mozzies. We've never had them here before. Had to deal with that. OH got up at 6 am to take dog into the woods or down to the beach. After that he didn't move except to drink water.

I watched the internal house temperature rise day after day as every part of it heated up. I did enjoy playing with hose pipe and paddling pool with grandchildren. We couldn't use the park because everything that was metal was too hot to use.

It was relentless. We're in Wales are having a very dry winter our reservoir are at 80% capacity. We supply England with water. It's concerning

GillyBmumofthree · 15/02/2023 09:14

I honestly cannot understand people who ‘dread’ a hot summer! Get a grip everyone, how do you think people manage in hot countries? Why do people flock to Spain every year? For the hot weather of course, and yes, I know it’s different on holiday BUT for goodness sake embrace it! Adjust your life accordingly, make the most of the glorious sunshine, we see precious little of it for most of the year, and when the weather does get hot my family will be spending as much time as possible enjoying the heat and the garden.we have a family size paddling pool which we all crowd into, our bbq is used most days and we thoroughly enjoy being able to have social meals outside with friends and family, it’s fantastic!
it won’t be long before people are complaining about the freezing cold weather, schools closed, transport grinding to a halt, everyone moaning groaning it’s too cold! Look at Norway, Sweden etc, they have it far worse but do they grind to a halt at the first sign of snow? Nope.
hate to say it but we are a nation of moaning, pathetic wimps.

GillyBmumofthree · 15/02/2023 09:16

Why are we such wimps in this country?

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 10:38

Flamingogirl08 · 10/02/2023 08:02

I mean it was really hot for like 4 days so YABU

This

If you really can't stand the heat of SE England then surely a move up north would be worth seriously considering

Being "terrified" of a the potential for a few hot days, months in advance, suggests you may need to take some decisive action.

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 10:39

@GillyBmumofthree agree with you

mydogisthebest · 15/02/2023 11:33

GillyBmumofthree · 15/02/2023 09:14

I honestly cannot understand people who ‘dread’ a hot summer! Get a grip everyone, how do you think people manage in hot countries? Why do people flock to Spain every year? For the hot weather of course, and yes, I know it’s different on holiday BUT for goodness sake embrace it! Adjust your life accordingly, make the most of the glorious sunshine, we see precious little of it for most of the year, and when the weather does get hot my family will be spending as much time as possible enjoying the heat and the garden.we have a family size paddling pool which we all crowd into, our bbq is used most days and we thoroughly enjoy being able to have social meals outside with friends and family, it’s fantastic!
it won’t be long before people are complaining about the freezing cold weather, schools closed, transport grinding to a halt, everyone moaning groaning it’s too cold! Look at Norway, Sweden etc, they have it far worse but do they grind to a halt at the first sign of snow? Nope.
hate to say it but we are a nation of moaning, pathetic wimps.

You can't understand people that dread a hot summer because, obviously, hot weather does not affect you.

Have you honestly read 36 pages of posts and still not understood that some people can't cope with the heat?

Lots of people do not manage in hot countries. I have a friend who is Australian but left there as soon as she could because she hated the heat.

Lots of people do not "flock to Spain every year". I never go abroad in the summer as it would just be far too hot for me and I would hate it.

The first time I went abroad was with DH to the South of France. We went end of August/beginning of September (so not the height of summer) and it was awful. DH loved it but I just didn't want to do anything as I felt ill.

We both hate sunbathing or lazing around but it was just too hot for me to want to sightsee. I was having at least 6 cold showers a day and spending up to 20 minutes in there each time.

It's great that you like the heat but have some sympathy for those of us who don't. Would you like to have a migraine for days on end so you can't even get out of bed, to feel like you can't breathe and not be able to sleep for day after day after day?

Oakbeam · 15/02/2023 11:34

Why are we such wimps in this country?

To be fair, there are over 60 million people in the UK. MN has “around eight million unique users each month”.

Only a score or so of them have posted that they can’t cope on warm weather. Hardly representative of the country as a whole.

mydogisthebest · 15/02/2023 11:35

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 10:38

This

If you really can't stand the heat of SE England then surely a move up north would be worth seriously considering

Being "terrified" of a the potential for a few hot days, months in advance, suggests you may need to take some decisive action.

Show quote history

I moved from London to The Midlands. I consider that to be "up north". Last year The Midlands had some of the hottest temperatures so didn't help me!

Oakbeam · 15/02/2023 11:35

in warm weather.

mydogisthebest · 15/02/2023 11:36

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 10:39

@GillyBmumofthree agree with you

Well obviously you are another selfish inconsiderate idiot with no sympathy for others who don't feel the heat the same way you do

justasking111 · 15/02/2023 12:30

At 19 years of age August 1976 took three coaches from North Wales to Newquay to visit a friend working in a hotel for the summer. Loved the heatwave . As a busy mum in heatwaves loved the paddling pool, hosepipe, friends round for BBQ.

OH aged 50 started with prickly heat when abroad. So couldn't cope with the heat. For me when menopause hit my intolerance started.

So I guess our internal thermostat went on the fritz. I have every sympathy with people who suffer. It's really not great.

We've friends who live abroad who catch colds when the temperature drops and really feel the cold.

We're just not acclimated here

Cattihorocks · 15/02/2023 12:45

I can’t tolerate heat with being very fair and the thought of that big heat coming back again is not somthing I’m looking forward to !! Looking into some air con before summer brits can’t cope with the heat niether.

angela99999 · 15/02/2023 13:00

I've not been able to cope with heat since menopause, 20 years ago. I'm also very fair skinned. When I was younger I used to be able to wear sunscreen but now I would simply sweat it off.
I wouldn't dream of jetting of somewhere hot for a holiday - so incidentally do not add more aircraft pollution to the global warming problem.
If you like heat that's great for you, but many Brits are fair skinned, post menopausal and don't like the heat.

Oakbeam · 15/02/2023 13:16

brits can’t cope with the heat niether.

Some don’t. Others do.

Some absolutely love it.

Estrella7 · 15/02/2023 21:50

Head to Shetland, North of Scotland, we had a cold wet summer, and will probably be the same this year.

NewNovember · 15/02/2023 21:52

So middle aged women like to moan about decent weather is what this thread boils down to basically.

007DoubleOSeven · 15/02/2023 22:08

NewNovember · 15/02/2023 21:52

So middle aged women like to moan about decent weather is what this thread boils down to basically.

I wouldn't assume we're all middle aged 🙄

angela99999 · 16/02/2023 08:08

NewNovember · 15/02/2023 21:52

So middle aged women like to moan about decent weather is what this thread boils down to basically.

Don't be ridiculous. Many do not regard temperatures in the mid 30's and above as "decent" (or indeed as typical) summer weather.

My DH tans instantly and loves hot weather, he's spent a lot of time working and living in the middle east, but even he found many days last year far too hot.

ClimbingRoseBush · 16/02/2023 08:12

NewNovember · 15/02/2023 21:52

So middle aged women like to moan about decent weather is what this thread boils down to basically.

The OP is 20. Many young people with more than half a brain are quite concerned about climate change destroying their futures. But you enjoy your barbecue in the decent weather hun

Ryebreadandpickles654 · 16/02/2023 12:20

NewNovember · 15/02/2023 21:52

So middle aged women like to moan about decent weather is what this thread boils down to basically.

Are you saying that worries are less valid somehow because they emanate from women in their middle years?

justasking111 · 16/02/2023 12:41

In my yoof I loved the sun. A friend turned nearly black every summer. Baby oil, silver screens she baked. Even I thought that mad.

I also don't see the point of slapping on factor 50 and baking these days. Wear a big hat, wear loose clothing and stay out of the midday sun.

Children I love those sun protection suits

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 16/02/2023 15:28

I live in Scotland and don't like the heat. Last year was definitely too hot and in the bigger picture not good for all sorts of reasons.

Please do look for low cost and low energy consumption ways to stay cool as buying aircon contributes to the problem!

I have sports towel thingys you soak them in cold water, wring them out and then snap them. They help you stay cool. You can wear around your head, neck or wrists.

Look to the tips used by cultures used to hot temperatures and adapt what you can to help you.

ItsNotReallyChaos · 18/02/2023 13:07

Adjust your life accordingly, make the most of the glorious sunshine, we see precious little of it for most of the year, and when the weather does get hot my family will be spending as much time as possible enjoying the heat and the garden.we have a family size paddling pool which we all crowd into, our bbq is used most days and we thoroughly enjoy being able to have social meals outside with friends and family, it’s fantastic!

How lovely for you. You do realise that many many people can't 'adjust their life accordingly' to sit around doing nothing in the middle of the working day? Many people don't have a garden that could take a family-size pool. What you spend on one of your fantastic social meals outside filling the BBQ grill with meat is probably a week's food budget to many working families.

It's great for you that you have the means and flexibility to enjoy days on end of 30+ degrees but you don't need to look far around you to see that most people will need to go to work etc and don't have the option to sit around in the garden.