The farmers are now having to feed their cattle on stored winter feed because the grass has stopped growing in our current 6- week UK heatwave. I think our garden is going to need new turves too; I haven’t mowed the lawn for weeks. On a walk around the village tonight it looked like autumn with thousands of leaves already on the ground, and those on the trees drying up and looking withered. The land is parched. We’re getting rumors of damaged harvests – that means prices will go up in supermarkets.
We’re on an ‘amber heat weather alert‘ at the moment. Staff in the Eye Clinic where I work are complaining of the heat. There is no air-conditioning, and any cooling fans are ‘going walkabout’. The actual clinic area is unbelievably hot. When I walked back to where my car was parked yesterday, the thermometer read 35 degrees Centigrade.
We Brits aren’t used to this hot weather, and it’s getting beyond a joke. Countries used to hot weather more than likely have air-con installed in public buildings at least, but hey, don’t expect it everywhere if you visit the UK. There are a few places with air-con it’s true, but many hotel rooms for instance do not. There’s also the frustrating experience of trying to get some fresh air through a hotel window that only opens a few inches ‘for your safety’ (my arse- it’s because they don’t want to be sued if you jump out and kill yourself).
Sam and I are lucky in that our eldest son started his career as an air-con engineer. Pride of place on the wall in our front room is an air-con unit busting its gasket at the moment trying to keep us cool. As we walk upstairs we can feel the heat rise, and it’s most unpleasant….
At least I don’t have to work outside. I felt terribly sorry for the chaps tarmacking our drive a fortnight ago – they were really struggling in the heat. One looked as though he was going to collapse any minute.
And amongst this arid wasteland you see people sneaking out in the evenings and watering their lawns with hosepipes and sprinklers. Are you mad? There’s probably going to be a water shortage very soon and you’re wasting it all watering bloody grass that will most likely grow back with a soaking of rain! Farmers yes of course have to water their crops and they’re entitled to, but householders, have a modicum of sense! Perhaps they don’t remember the standpipes in the street in London in 1976 like I do- they’ll soon start complaining if they have to queue up with a bucket…
Patrick Walts said:
Amen! People over here in the US, particularly Oklahoma, where I’m from, waste SO much water. I’ve seen automatic sprinklers running during thunderstorms AND snowstorms. People drench their lawns like there’s no tomorrow and then start whining about droughts when it doesn’t rain for awhile, and they never acknowledge any culpability on their part. I feel like I’m the only one who notices how ridiculous it is. Meanwhile the farmers are the ones truly impacted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Yes, absolutely true here too. Water is a valuable resource not to be taken for granted.
LikeLike
dgkaye said:
I feel for you guys. We’ve beem having the same temps here but at least we have airconditioning. Honestly, I don’t know how you guys are dealing.
I was just gabbing with my bestie who lives in Kent. They’re building a new home and currently renting an old quaint cottage which is small with bedrooms on a 2nd and 3rd floor – her bedroom, lol. She’s been sleeping on the couch and paying many visits to her car to turn on the aircon there. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Sam’s off to Scotland today for a couple of days on business. It’s always cooler up there. I’m going to sleep downstairs in the armchair tonight. You can feel the heat rise as you walk upstairs. It’s horrible. We had a field fire in the neighbouring village yesterday – very worrying, but it’s out now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dgkaye said:
Wow, that’s scary Stevie. And yes, that heat does rise so the chair and your air conditioner sound like the place to be. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phil Huston said:
I live in Texas. Let’s talk hot!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Yeah, but you’re used to it. We’re not!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Phil Huston said:
Ain’t noboody used to 110. OW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Ugh.
LikeLike
Stevie Turner said:
How come Texans have to go one bigger than everyone else lol?
LikeLiked by 1 person
srbottch said:
Same here in western New York State. Quit watering and. Turing grass a month ago. Maintaining our plants only. Expecting storms tonight. We do have a/c which most every place has. It’s not just the heat but the humidity. Could use a nice snow storm 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Perhaps not a snow storm, just a day of rain…
LikeLiked by 1 person
watchingthedaisies said:
Thankfully, we got some rain here in Donegal after a 7 week drought. The sunshine is back and I am enjoying it immensely. We have hosepipe bans in place but the poor farmers are struggling…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
No hosepipe bans for us yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long…
LikeLiked by 1 person
rachaelstray said:
We just aren’t built for this kind of heat. Everything is so dry and there’s already been quite serious grass fires particularly in the North West. The grass will recover once the rain eventually comes back. Some parts of the country have had rain/ Here int he north East we had one night of rain. It was enough to fill my water butt back up which is what I’m using to water our plants – not the grass though!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
We had a few drops one evening, but nothing really for 6 weeks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
rachaelstray said:
We need some rain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
We do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
The whole country is suffering and some things may never recover from the knock on effect of dehydration. My bedroom has turned into an oven and I’m seriously thinking of sleeping in my yard, which cools down very well after dark…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
We’re thinking about bringing the mattress downstairs and leaving the air-con on all night and to hell with the electricity cost!
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
Bloody hell, I would have done this weeks ago!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
It’s memory foam – very heavy and unwieldy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
Room for a futon?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darlene said:
I feel for you folks in the UK. It’s one thing when you are used to the heat but another when you aren’t. I’m sure it is hard on the elderly. Yes, it is silly to water lawns at this point. Hope it rains soon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Me too! Apparently it’s going to get hotter still as the week progresses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
M.L. Davis said:
This heatwave is crazy! Everything looks so parched. Love your post x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks. Yes, we are definitely parched here in Suffolk.
LikeLiked by 2 people
M.L. Davis said:
I bet! I’m in Wiltshire, where I think it’s probably a little less hot, but still quite unbearable at times!
LikeLiked by 1 person
jwebster2 said:
Here in Cumbria we’ve not been as hot, and in the last week or so we’ve had some welcome rain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
30 degrees again today in Suffolk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
jwebster2 said:
you’re welcome to it, I prefer 20 to thirty
summers were better in Fahrenheit
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Fire engines have just been racing along to put out a field fire in the next village. Worrying…
LikeLiked by 1 person
jwebster2 said:
😦
LikeLike
jwebster2 said:
grass is very resilient, especially if it isn’t watered. If you water it regularly its roots stay close to the surface (because that’s where the water and therefore nutrients are) but if you make a habit of not watering it, the roots go down
Aeration encourages the roots to grown, and not mowing to often also encourages the roots to grow. This is probably why fields recover far better than lawns. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Great advice, which can only come from a farmer! Our lawn has always recovered in the past, but this year is taking a particularly nasty pasting.
LikeLiked by 1 person