To my mind, the temperature around now is just about right, and we’ve not (yet) seen any of the very high temps that other parts of Europe have been dealing with. It’s about right for this time of year; an average of 30° to 35° in the shade. At least, it is in the corner of the courtyard where we keep the thermometer. There are ups and downs to the warmer weather, and the downs can be uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous, but it’s always worth thinking of the ‘ups’ too.
For example: In the winter, the bed is made up with a duvet and two blankets. This means having to make the bed every day and do the weekly battle with the duvet cover. As spring comes, sob the blanket (1) comes off, then blanket (2), and finally, the duvet insides go, and we’re left with only the duvet cover to reset in the morning, and then, that too finally has to go. These days, there’s no such thing as making the bed every morning; you just sleep on it and get up off it, straighten the bottom sheet and on with the day. You’re also free to wander around the house wearing very little, though there’s always a shirt on standby in case someone comes to the door; we don’t want to scare anyone. I can slip into sandals rather than go through the arduous task of putting on socks and shoes when going out, and that saves a few minutes per day. Then, with all windows open, any breeze that’s available is a welcome guest. Better, we don’t have to put on the expensive hot water tank because the cold tank is on the roof in full sun, meaning the cold water now comes from the cold tap, warm or hot, and if we want cold to temper it down, we use the cold water in the hot water tank, which is inside and away from the sun. Then, on leaving the shower, you only need to stand in the breeze to dry off.
And so on.
Of course, on the downside, it can be very hot and, worse, clammy when it is humid. So, we’re currently on at least three litres of water a day, probably more. If I’m to count, I’d say I got through four litres yesterday, one of which I downed at the bar with my frappe, and a half litre of which I downed while on a short walk around the village in the morning. (Hence today’s photos.) You know the rules: hat, sun cream, water, sensible shoes, keep hydrated, eat regularly (for moisture intake as much as anything else), stay out of the sun, put factor 50 on the nose to stop it doing strange and colourful things, and generally be sensible.
But hotter means slightly cheaper, with no need for the hot tank or heating, but a need for the fans, on and off through the day, and on in the bedroom overnight. It’s also quicker when getting ready to go out: sandals, shorts and one of my two summer shirts (I have a third, but it’s for evenings out, because it’s slightly thicker than the daytime two.)
So, that’s where we are, and although things will get hotter, it should happen gradually. We’ve not had that sudden ‘turning up of the thermostat’ that has happened in previous years, where one day it’s 24° and the next, it’s over 34°, and currently, it’s all very manageable.
I’m not sure what the weather’s doing to our bougainvillea, or maybe that’s quite normal, but on a walk yesterday, I found only one other plant that was doing what ours is doing (drying flowers and sending them on the slightest breeze to every part of the house, inside and out.) The others were flourishing. Perhaps it’s because ours is in a pot, or old. It certainly had a difficult start in life when it was left for us outside a shop, and we didn’t know until two days later. Luckily, the shop was Jenine’s café, the Olive Tree, and she suspected we might be involved with the gift of an unwanted plant in her backyard, and it found its way to us on shaky but still living stalks. Anyway, there’s lots of purple and red to be found in the lanes at the moment if you’re wandering that way. And if you do, remember: hat, water, sensible shoes…
