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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:
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9
HufflepuffRavenclaw · 10/02/2023 08:30

Tayegete · 10/02/2023 08:22

I think some posters have a lack of empathy. I hear a lot of people talking about the cold and SAD yet personally I quite enjoy colder weather. Doesn't mean I would tell them they are overreacting for hating winter.

The difference between SAD and the summer/heat haters is that we get cold weather every year. Every year it gets darker and darker in November and by the third week of December it's dark at 4pm. It's guaranteed. And the cold/lack of light lasts for at least three months, November - January.

Yes climate change means we're getting more hot weather in the UK, but not three months of extreme temperatures.

If it's affecting you so bad that you are "terrified" of it in February, then you have plenty of time to start planning with stuff like air conditioning units

WaltzingWaters · 10/02/2023 08:30

The weather was incredible last summer. I hope all summer is like that. Sorry, I’m a sun lover. Do admit it’s hard with a little one though.
maybe consider moving somewhere cooler (north Scotland).

NeedAHoliday2021 · 10/02/2023 08:30

I loved the heatwave. Just plan like you worked for snow.

Tirednest · 10/02/2023 08:30

I'm not a climate change denier. But it was really hot for about a week.

Purplecatshopaholic · 10/02/2023 08:30

I’ll swap you op. I’m in Scotland - we had a few nice days for sure last year, but I kept reading the Press about the heatwave, and wondering why we weren’t getting it!

Girlswithgoodbodieslikeboyswithferarris · 10/02/2023 08:30

Scepticalwotsits · 10/02/2023 08:28

Some people either live in Scotland or have a selective memory, yes there were about 5 days where it got up to near 40 but the days before and after were also hot.

also if you rent it your house has no shade (because people like to lop down trees with no regard to shade or nature) or is poorly insulated it can be a nightmare.

our house had a side that gets the sun all day and has no windows on it, this meant at times the inside of the house was warmer than outside because of the heat radiating back in.

if you live in a decently ventilated place or had aircon it probably wasn’t an issue or if you were working from a nicely cooled offie you may not have felt the brunt of it.

Imagine that - some people living in Scotland.

It was 38 degrees in Scotland, by the way.

VivaLesTartes · 10/02/2023 08:31

I usually love the summer but I am going to be very pregnant by the time it hits so yes dreading it!

Definitely looking at air con units!

MelaniesFlowers · 10/02/2023 08:32

The Met Office said that? Excellent, about time we had some consistently hot weather ☀️

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 08:32

ShimmeringShirts · 10/02/2023 08:25

Can we get through one week without panicking over everyone dying because of something? First covid, then food shortages, cost of living causing people to drop like flies and now the sodding heat that’s months and months away (and being discussed while everyone’s still jabbering on about people freezing to death this winter!!).

The world is dire but for the love of sanity people need to stop being terrified of everything all the fecking time! And at this point I’d rather have the scorching heat than the freezing cold, not having been able to top up my gas in over a week means I’m sat shivering my arse off, I can’t wait for summer to hit.

Surely you're aware of the popular perception of Mumsnet? Everyone's either terrified or fuming. And you're not allowed to assuage those feelings as that's not supportive. You have to support everyone by fuelling their negative feelings and encouraging a negativity spiral.

TulipCat · 10/02/2023 08:33

The best way to channel your anxiety is to take steps to mitigate the effects of hot weather - get a couple of air con units, buy flowing cotton clothes, get shutters or awnings for any South facing windows.

Dwellingbuyingdilemma · 10/02/2023 08:34

I suspect those saying you're over reacting live in spacious houses with good insulation and nice shady gardens. For those in flats or houses that turned into hot boxes last summer it was cruel.

I feel claustrophobic in the heat/humidity. It affects my physical and mental health and I know I'm not alone with this and feel the OP had a very valid reason to be concerned. Cold is far easier to manage, throw on more layers, in the heat you can't do anything to cool down past a certain point.

PortiasBiscuit · 10/02/2023 08:35

My God, I wish this was all I had to worry about.

Original poster
screamingbanshees · 10/02/2023 08:36

@Stuffynosetime Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but all you're doing is proving my point about the summer being awful. I never said that we had it worse than anywhere else. The whole country was suffering. We probably had it better than the South but it was still horrific.

OP posts:
namechange143 · 10/02/2023 08:37

It was hard last year with a toddler. I also had a child the same age at that stage. They want to play outside, the car is like an oven, their bedroom is an absolute sweat pit. They're sweaty and grumpy (well so was I) Smile

I think it was only 2 days that were horrendous. Other than that I am looking forward to it being warmer so I don't spend all my wages on bloody gas bills!

LemonPledge555 · 10/02/2023 08:38

derelicte · 10/02/2023 07:52

Roughly where do you live? Move to Scotland! It definitely wasn't that hot here.

There were definitely some uncomfortably hot times in the central belt! Maybe less so further north. But it’s all relative, you get used to it.

Lentilweaver · 10/02/2023 08:38

I am in a London flat with fantastic double glazing but no ventilation, and last year I went back to my home country of India for a break from the heat.😆 May do it again this year.

Original poster
screamingbanshees · 10/02/2023 08:38

PortiasBiscuit · 10/02/2023 08:35

My God, I wish this was all I had to worry about.

Ah yes, this is all I have to worry about. I'm glad you came to that conclusion from one thread.

OP posts:
Kidspartyideasplease · 10/02/2023 08:39

Are you shaking and crying as well?

ShimmeringShirts · 10/02/2023 08:41

@DogInATent forgot what site I was on for a minute! I shall revert to duly terrified and fuming in equal measures 😁

PAFMO · 10/02/2023 08:41

The heat in the south east last summer wasn't as hot as 2019, (overall) or, come to think of it, 2003.
I work on summer residential courses and in 2019 we had to actually cancel some of our planned activities for the students because of the excessive heat over a few weeks.

That said, a couple of things...

UK houses (and mindset) are still not geared up for heat, but for the opposite. Smallish rooms, fabric everywhere, no real heat/light blockers, people still going out at 2pm instead of early in the morning because they're not yet thinking in terms of mitigation.

Also, OP, being terrified, as others have said, is over the top. Let your child run around with no clothes on, get a fan. Do your shopping at 8 instead of 2. Etc etc.

sorrynotathome · 10/02/2023 08:41

Terrified? Horrific? The whole country was suffering? Get a grip, or some therapy. YABU.

drumandthebass · 10/02/2023 08:42

YABU. Get a grip. Are you always this dramatic?

Loics · 10/02/2023 08:42

screamingbanshees · 10/02/2023 08:38

Ah yes, this is all I have to worry about. I'm glad you came to that conclusion from one thread.

Show quote history

You'll just get intentionally goady posts such as the "oh we've not had hot weather for so long, I'm excited!" etc.
I remember someone saying (on an old thread) if they walked round Egypt all day and survived in worse heat, people could manage it here... Thinking poddling round shops and cafes in flip flops while on holiday is the same as some people here having to don their usual work uniform/suit and work in buildings without air con all day. 🤦‍♀️

Companyofwolves · 10/02/2023 08:42

Bet the people on this post saying how wonderful it was will be the first to moan when it happens this year.

cosybarn · 10/02/2023 08:42

NC

this was our lawn in august. We had reports of the river dwindling to such an extent that fish were in distress. It really was very hot.

I enjoyed it. But I am pregnant and due in mid July. It has rather crossed my mind that giving birth might be like the first circle of hell.

To be terrified of the coming summer?