That Was The Week That Was

 The two hot days have been and gone it was up to just over 40℃ in places in the South East which is a couple of degrees over 100℉. Don't think it got that hot here - I don't have a thermometer outside so no way of knowing but it must have been in the high 30's/ 90s.

 I know these temperatures are nothing compared to some countries have in their summers, and people are probably wondering why we are feeling the heat so much but we are not really set up for it here as it's such a rare occurrence (the same as we are never prepared for heavy snow as that doesn't happen often either). Houses are built to cope with what we have - not extremes that we've never had before!

Apart from unusual heat we've also had virtually no rain for months in Suffolk and everywhere is tinder dry. I'm watering the edibles but some of the perennials under the two magnolia trees have faded away, although losing a few plants is nothing compared to the people in various places in the country, including not so far away in Norfolk, who've lost their homes to wild fires. One started in a compost heap and others spread so quickly from  field fires (sometimes caused by hot farm machinery and dust) - frightening to see something we've seen on TV from Australia and the US happening in this country.

Anyway on Monday and most of Tuesday I just stayed in but then Tuesday evening I got stupidly hot and sweaty by going to WI. There was a short email debate in the morning about cancelling but one woman said we are all grown up enough to cope and that meant the President couldn't cancel without looking silly.

I couldn't really Not go because had been volunteered to take the secretary's seat as it was Members Topsy-turvy evening (when the committee take a night off and "volunteers" take the meeting). In all the WI's and meetings I've been to it's never been taken quite so seriously!

The speaker was willing to turn out in the heat and he did a presentation about a beginners guide to Astronomy which I'd seen in 2019 at Stonham Aspal WI! It was just as interesting second time round despite many of us melting, drinking lots of water and fanning ourselves with anything handy.

Heat must affect people in different ways as some members came wearing trousers and not looking hot or sweating at all..........how?

But the worst thing about going to WI was having to shut up the bungalow at 7pm. Came home to a building still like an oven at 9.45pm.I took two ice packs wrapped in tea-towels and a wet flannel to bed with me!...................I don't have a fan - can't afford more electric.

I shopped early Wednesday when the temps were down to a more reasonable 25℃, did a bit of Nanna duty on Thursday morning with middle Grandson.........how does someone 2 years and 5 months old know the names of so many dinosaurs? Then on Friday morning I went to see Youngest Granddaughter at her pre-school leaving thing - she starts proper school in September.That's 3 out of 5 grandchildren who will be at school - growing up fast.

Mentioning not using a fan and generally trying to use less electric will be even more important from October onwards when prices are set to rise yet again. Dc at Frugal in Norfolk put a link to Martin Lewis' youtube speech telling the new prime minister that they need to do something - fat chance there! I'm not worried for me - I've got savings and have lived simply and on less all my life  but  with food prices rising - pushed up by the rising fuel prices and heating costs going crazy it may well be a bad winter. I've tried to tell family about the years when inflation went crazy and then the rolling power cuts and strikes and back then mortgages were tiny compared to now.

The 1970s are a decade remembered for industrial strife, particularly the Three-Day-Week of 1974 and 1979’s Winter of Discontent.

The pattern of dispute and disruption was set at the start of the decade, when in the run up to Christmas 1970 the country was crippled by power cuts as the result of industrial action.

As the lights went out, folk had to carry on with their daily lives as best they could.

I can't imagine how power cuts would work now when practically every part of our lives involves electric- imagine a hospital without power for 3 hours every day. This winter countries will all be vying to buy oil and gas, with Russia cutting off most of Europe and prices will go up yet again.

All we can do is to look after our families, prepare for the worst and hope for the best and have faith in ourselves.

This week I have been grateful for

• Being able to stay in and do nothing much during the hot days
• Good fresh cold water from the tap
• More food from the garden

Have a good weekend wherever you are and I shall return with something (no idea what!) on Monday.

Sue