Morning all. It is official. The town where we go for the weekly shop and many other things was the hottest place in France yesterday at 39°C. Disaster struck Le Blanc yesterday when a lorry discharged its contents of grain into a massive heap at the entrance to the bridge that takes you in and out of the town. Total gridlock, and eventually they had to close the road while the clear up was undertaken. We managed to get back over the bridge eventually, and then find a way through the backstreets of the old town, which were designed for mules rather than cars. Have a good day everyone.
Morning jobs not finished, but now too hot to do more. It seems we have another week of it to come. I think I will survive it with my array of fans, and I do not have the flooding brought on by the heat over Spain. There is often a bright side if you look hard enough. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Still hot, but a couple of degrees less than it was at its peak. Having filled my garden bags with vegetation, such as brambles, that I cannot compost, but the re-cycling centre can, I made a trip there yesterday afternoon only to find the gates firmly shut. When I returned I had a look at their website, that said that due to the heatwave, centres might not be keeping to normal opening hours. This was to protect their workforce, and they were certain the customers would understand. Fair enough, but it could help to say they would be shut in the afternoons when the temperature is at the highest point. Have a good day everyone.
Hang the bags in the sun for a few days, then snip a hole in the bottom of them and catch the liquid that comes out - a readymade fertiliser.
Morning all. Yes, it is still hot and likely to stay that way until Tuesday when rain and storms are forecast. A missive from the council was in the letter box this morning inviting us to go on a walk around the local countryside and points of interest this Sunday afternoon. They must be made of sterner stuff than me, as I will be sitting still with a large fan going. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Today is likely to be the hottest day at 37°C before it starts to cool down a little, thankfully. The shelves in the supermarket cave are being prepared for the new harvest, so last year's wine is now being sold at bargain prices. This only applies to the everyday stuff that people have. The very expensive château bottled ones will have reductions later, but not like the third off prices you can find. The industry is struggling a bit as people have cut back on their spending, and in the current heatwave, alcohol is not the best thing to quench your thirst. Have a good day everyone.
Went out last night, missed the game today. Tuned in and it's fing internationals. Off to get a very late brucnh with the Mrs. Peace all.
Morning all. Not a good start to a Sunday morning, with landline and mobile phones ringing. My sister-in-law died this morning with her family there, and they were all trying to contact Mme. It has been coming, and so now the next thing is to see if the moth has got at one of my suits. For a French funeral you put on a clean tee shirt and a pair of jeans, give the trainers a scrub, and you are ready. Not looking forward to the forthcoming events, and don't think it would be a good day to be looking at football fixtures in the next few weeks. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Lots of dark cloud around first thing, with a heavy shower that lasted two minutes. Since then the sky has cleared, and the temperature is rising once more into the thirties. The shower has released the smell of damp dry grass, although there is little grass to be seen, just a covering of yellow straw. At least it has reduced the amount of mowing I need to do. Have a good day everyone.
Spent the weekend at a Welsh eco retreat to celebrate a friends 70th...... The buildings were like this and on a hill bordering Lyn padarn lake and snowdon ...all very enjoyable with thankfully good weather... but visiting composting toilets in the dark was something I dont wish to repeat too often
Morning all. I think that the heatwave is coming to an end. Overnight rain and it feels so much fresher today. With oil production being cut back by the Saudis and Russians, prices at the pumps have been steadily rising. The suppliers to the service stations have agreed to operate a voluntary price cap to combat inflation, and will continue it into next year if required. This will mean that their profits will fall, but will help out the motorists that have to travel, and the vast distribution setup supplying the supermarkets. Better this way as it feeds straight into the system, rather than a windfall tax that gets lost in general government spending. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. A real Autumnal feel to the weather, with mist brought on by rain at the start of the day. France is getting tough with makers of the iPhone 12 because of radiation fears. This phone has a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 5.74 watts per kilogram, while the EU limit is 2 watts per kilogram, and in some countries it is even lower. Apple is expected to respond within two weeks, and if they don't a ban on selling them could be enforced. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Off to the physio with Mme this morning for the second of her twice-weekly sessions. Next month it is likely to end as she will have had the year that was prescribed for her. Some days she walks into the medical centre with no sign of a limp, but hobbles out after a strenuous session. While waiting for her, I see some of the regulars, and one elderly gent likes to come for a chat. I don't know where he comes from, as I only understand half of what he says. Still we smile at each other, which is the main thing. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Warm and a clear blue suggests that we will be back in the thirties today. Lots of British cars and motorbikes about at present. Yesterday, a convoy of about a dozen bikes roared past me as I was keeping to the 80 kph speed limit. This was on a nice straight road that is well known for police cameras, My English neighbour who travelled this road every day for work was picked up and fined five times over the years. She changed her job to a different town as it was becoming very expensive. Have a good day everyone.
I don't know what it is about speed and some people. A few years ago I drove my family down from CQ to Sydney, using the inland highways to avoid heavy traffic and speed freaks. We never saw any signage telling us when we were entering NSW, but could soon tell by the difference in drivers. Whilst apparently plodding along at the 60mph speed limit, a rather expensive looking sports car shot past us into the distance. Ten minutes later we all smiled and waved at him as he was at the side of the road receiving a speeding ticket. A little while later, he shot past us again and disappeared into the distance - he obviously hadn't learnt his lesson as , ten minutes later, we were smiling and waving at him again as he received another speeding ticket...
Morning all. I have read a news item about theatre goers in the West End paying £395 to watch a play. You do get some champagne and an ice cream thrown in for the money. Back in the early sixties, before we were married, a trip by train to London to do some shopping, a meal, and a visit to the theatre was an occasional Saturday trip, if Watford were away from home. I was able to pay for such an outing when my weekly wage was £5. I wonder what my £5 would be in today's money? Have a good day everyone.
