Last summer we were in France. Usually, we try to avoid being there in high summer, partly so our sons and their friends can take advantage of the house and pool, also because it is often too hot for us!

I wrote about the ‘canicule’, as the heatwave is called in France, here:

https://fancyingfrance.com/2019/07/23/heatwave/

Little did I know what was to come in 2020 and how long it would be before we returned to France.

This poster gives advice on what to do in a heatwave. It has been rolled out again this year.

I decided (obviously, too much time on my hands?!) to research the definition of a heatwave, as far as the UK is concerned. Here’s what I found, according to the Met Office:

‘A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county.’

I have to say that I am not enjoying the heatwave. Don’t get me wrong, I love sunshine and warmth but these energy sapping temperatures are just too much for me. I miss all the items below which we have in France, to keep us cool, especially the shutters!

Even my eldest son, who loves the sun and the heat, has commented that he’s finding it very hard to work in these temperatures.

However, you won’t find me rushing to the nearest beach. In fact, at the moment, I can’t think of anything worse. I know I am very privileged to have a garden and live in a rural area, not in a high rise flat in an inner city. However, I don’t understand why people don’t clear up after themselves. I’m talking about litter and worse… Rant over!

When you’re a Blue Merle Border Collie pup with a fairly thick coat, what’s the best thing to do in the heat? Sleep, of course!

Sorry, I couldn’t miss an opportunity to include Zeph, in this post, somehow!

Do you have a heatwave where you are? Or perhaps it’s your winter? How do you cope with high temperatures? I’d love to know!