Rarer than hen's teeth
Excuse me while I clear my throat and join the national caterwauling about the bizarrely warm weather we are having here in the UK. Most of bonny Caledonia has been bathed in sunshine and yes, even heat as well. I know hearing about a few random days where the mercury exceeds 75 degrees must be intensely boring for people from places like Gary, Texas where, at the time of this writing, it is a sizzling 100.4. But really, anything resembling a heatwave in this country is such a rarity that I cannot let it pass unremarked upon.
In my office, people are showing up for work in the most extraordinary outfits. Most of us don't have anything resembling a proper summer wardrobe, you see- apart from the sorts of things you might take on holiday. So improvisation is the name of the game, and as a result there are slightly odd items creeping into the attire here and there- rather saucy colored tank tops, unusual casual-ish sandals and a frightening amount of pale Scottish flesh. Everyone sits around fanning themselves with expressions of dazed lassitude, commenting at regular intervals to anyone within earshot that "it's boiling". Boiling out there! Boiling! You half expect the women to start toppling over like wilted flowers, calling for their stays to be loosened.
To be fair, it is quite warm by Scottish standards. Air conditioning is not standard, so it does get rather stuffy inside. The other night I sweltered even with the window open, driving me out of the bedroom at midnight to the relative comfort of a better ventilated living room. I fell asleep and woke up at 3am with a sweaty cheek stuck to the leather sofa. Wandering back to my bed, I found E. lying spread-eagled across only a fitted sheet, having kicked off all the remaining bedcovers in the night. Staggering into work, I discovered my colleagues were similarly hollow-eyed from a heat-induced lack of sleep.
"Boiling last night! Boiling, I tell you!" we muttered to each other, before universally agreeing that we should all be sent home when the temperature exceeds 70 farenheit. Not to worry, a freakishly chilly sea mist or possibly even a thunderstorm is no doubt right around the corner, at which point normal service can be resumed; that is, we can all go back to moaning about the cold and wet.
In other news, I have purchased one of these. One of the finest gadgets ever; extremely addictive. I don't quite know how I have lived all these years without one.
You're using the new gadget to tone up, right? Not some crazy *sex* toy?
Posted by: DD | July 19, 2006 at 07:30 PM
The last few days here have been insanely hot... we're talking over 100 degrees "real feel." It was in the 90's last night at 10pm! I advise consuming copious amounts of ice cream.
Posted by: mm | July 19, 2006 at 07:51 PM
Boiling, indeed. S'ok...the haar is back today!
Posted by: Pamplemousse | July 20, 2006 at 10:09 AM
here's the remedy for the heat (developed during years of living in an unairconditioned cell (i mean studio) in new york city):
before bed, take a cool shower, turn it cooler and cooler til it is downright chilly.
after shower, powder all flesh
put a terry clothe beach towel over the sheets (much, much better than sweaty sheets)
turn on fan full blast.....and away you go!
i made it through many a genuine heat wave without any interupted sleep!!
good luck to you.
Posted by: susan | July 20, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Hmm...the cool shower and terry sounds like a smart idea...but I'm gonna go with the ice cream ;)
Posted by: DebbieS | July 22, 2006 at 01:42 AM
Oh great. You're a terrible influence on me, Mare. I stopped reading blogs and went directly to that website and bought one of those.
Jeez. Now I'll be addicted as well. *sigh*
Posted by: -Blue | July 23, 2006 at 05:33 PM
I live in the temperate pacific NW and for three days we have had 100 plus degree weather. I don't know whether to appreciate the change of pace or pray for the rain to come a little sooner. I feel like a sensitive hydrangea left out in the hot sun to burn and wilt. Until I go inside. We are the only people we know who have an air conditioner and have become suddenly very popular.
Posted by: joie | July 24, 2006 at 04:11 AM
Oh yes my brother has recently moved to the U.k and he is constantly sending us messages about how hot the weather is and that it's just like living in Sydney. I keep warning him about the winter (having lived in the UK myself) but he does not seem to care!
Make the most of the heat...but it's hard when you have to work.
Posted by: betty | July 26, 2006 at 09:22 AM
Well, how about 90 degrees for days in a row? That's really just not british, I think. I hope it's cooled down where you are. I hate the heat.
Intrigued by what made you buy a powerball. What is it FOR?
Posted by: thalia | July 27, 2006 at 10:43 PM