Thursday 26 July 2018

It's the end of the world as we know it!

Glorious sweetpeas*

'Thousands will die!'


This is one of the headlines on the BBC front page this morning, scaremongering on the back of stories about soaring temperatures. Oh, for goodness' sake!

OK, so this report is actually about what the future might hold, should heatwaves become a regular feature; but I'm sure you've seen the stories in the press about how dangerous all this weather is. Yes, I know it's very hot and I know we're all a bit sweaty and starting to flag, but honestly! What is it with the British? We're never happier than when we're miserable.

Obviously, some parts of the world are suffering because of the unusual weather and that's awful, but for most of us in the UK it's all just a bit bewildering. We don't have the right clothes or attitude for all this sun.  I know there are some who are at risk - the elderly, the very young and those with trouble breathing at the best of times, for instance - but shouldn't we be making the most of this lovely weather? Put on some sunscreen, buy a floppy hat, sit in the shade, strut with a parasol, but try to enjoy it while it's here, because it won't be long before we're scraping the ice off the windscreen and worrying about burst pipes and people slipping over in the high street.

On a pedantic note, may I take issue with the use of the word 'thanks' in this quote from the BBC story?
 'But all agree that future heatwaves will be hotter and more frequent thanks to carbon emissions.'  

Have a lovely day, folks - but be careful out there.

* In case you think I've been wasting water, let me assure you that my sweetpeas, pictured, continue to thrive because I've been emptying the washing-up bowl into their pot.


10 comments:

  1. I do appreciate the heat doesn't suit everyone, but I don't see why I should be made to feel guilty for the fact that I'm enjoying having some decent summer weather for a change – and there does seem to be some pressure in that direction.

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    1. Exactly. Let those who can, get out in the sun. The rest can stay inside with the curtains closed.

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  2. There has never not been change.

    Spanish conquistadors documented a sea of plains grass where I grew up, which is all desert now. It didn't change overnight.

    I could rant on.

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    1. Hey, you can rant all you like here. There was a programme on the World Service the other day about the difference between weather and climate, which made for interesting listening. Yes, we're influencing the climate, but it was going to change anyway.

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  3. Well said Julia. Long hot summers may become the norm but many of us normally head to warmer climes for just such temperatures anyway. The difficulty is working in the heat but we will all just have to go a little slower and adapt. Personally, I sit in the shade and wear a hat as a matter of course although I have skin that turns brown at the mere sight of the sun. Let summer be summer I say! (We have a water leak underground at the moment and are waiting for it to be sourced and fixed so I can say nothing about saving water at the moment!)

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    1. We shall simply have to adapt, Deborah. I quite fancy adopting the siesta as the way forward.

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  4. I remember two flowers from my grandmother's garden: bleeding hearts and sweet peas. Thanks for the memory.

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    1. They are such a lovely old-fashioned flower, especially the scented ones. Thanks for commenting, Priscilla.

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  5. The media overreact with everything! I don't like the heat but I'm enduring it after the very long, cold winter. Love sweetpeas.

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    1. I think we've all forgotten about the dreary start we had to the year, Rosemary. Glad you liked the pic.

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