Preparing for a torrid Summer

[stella1know]

The last two Summers were crippling. This year worries me because we have the possibility of another insane summer + virus and lockdown + secondary effects on market and harvests.
-Is anyone preparing, buying goods essential to you in anticipation of harvest or logistic issues?
-Are you doing anything in the house e.g. putting up extra curtains to block out heat? In heatwaves fans are sold out so better to look for offers now.
-in the garden investing in rainwater barrels won’t help if it doesn’t rain.
Any tips appreciated and support going forward.

We live in a small new build that boils us alive even in fairly mild weather if we're not careful. So if you want a "summer" experience some time, just look into one of those!

After seeing recommendation on MN, DS got an ice towel in his Christmas stocking, now might be the time for us to try it out, apparently it stays cool for longer than a regular wet cloth that would warm up from your body heat, hope it works

@HuggedTheRedwoods That is an excellent idea. Why have I hm ever thought to write on the bottle? Stealing that one!

Those pet cooling mats are good too. We have a couple of them and pop them in the fridge in the morning before leaving for work and they are so nice to sit or lie on when we get back on a hot afternoon/evening. I sleep on one and for the hottest nights and put it under DD's sheet to help her drift off then remove it when we go to bed (she is very mobile, sleeps in a single bed and moves off it if it's too cool so I am not worried about her getting too cold). I was pregnant this last summer and they were an absolute life saver.

So post heatwave review:

We put our gro blackout blinds on the south facing window and glazed door which with the curtains drawn as well made a noticeable difference.

I made cold water bottles by filling with water in the morning and putting in the fridge, so nice on The back of the neck in bed

We need another fan, two between three bedrooms does not work