On Monday (15 June), I worked from home, took an early lunch break so that I was able to go for a massage and walked to Benningen late afternoon. I changed the route slightly, once again walking by the small quarry (if it ever was one) I first discovered by coincidence back in March. Of course it looked rather different now, with much less water in the pond, and everything quite overgrown. So far, I have not yet managed to find any information about this strange little place.
A few drops of rain fell on Tuesday (16 June), but it was warm at 25C/77F. After I had spent the morning working from home, I got on a local train to Marbach where a meeting with my client (the Literature Archive) was scheduled for early afternoon. All went well and I enjoyed the walk home along the river, which took me 2 hours and 15 minutes.
That evening, the last pub quiz before the summer break was held at "my" Irish Pub. There were only four of us, and we did not expect to walk home with a prize, but it was still nice to reach 24 or 25 out of 30 points. Also, as always it was good to be with friends.
Wednesday (17 June) was warmer but still pleasant at 28C/82F. It was my regular office day, and since my room faces North and never gets the full sun on the windows, it was not too hot to do focused work. I went to my Mum's after work for a bite to eat and a chat.
The thermometer reached 32C/89F on Thursday (18 June), and I was glad not having to take any stuffy trains or waiting at hot, dusty stations. Working from home allowed me to have a bit of a rest early afternoon; I had a headache all day and felt inexplicably exhausted. Untypically for me, I never set foot out of the door that day but just stayed inside.
It was even a little hotter on Friday (19 June), but I felt much better and got everything done - cleaning, grocery shopping, changing the bedding etc. - by 10:00 am so that I could sit down at my desk afterwards. O.K. arrived not too late that evening, and we had an assortment of three different salads for a refreshing meal. So far, I had managed quite well to keep the worst of the heat out of my flat.
Saturday (20 June) was hot at 34C/93F, but knowing the area well, we chose the paths with the most shade from large old trees for our walk. The small palace by the lake was our first stop; we had a refreshing shandy at the beer garden and then walked up into town via the deer park at a leisurely pace. Friends had given us a voucher for an ice cream parlour in town as a wedding present, and we exchanged that for two large cups and a small iced water.
A rest at home was very welcome afterwards, and in the evening we went to my Mum‘s for a delicious tabouleh.
It was very warm in her attic flat, but bearable with chilled drinks and light food.
It was about 10:00 pm and almost dark when we left, but there was still enough light for us to enjoy the evening sky and see the unlit paths on the fields, where we headed for a nightly walk.
I enjoyed that walk greatly but didn‘t take pictures of the beautiful crescent moon and brightly shining Venus, as I knew the photos would not show them the way we saw them with our own eyes.
Sunday (21 June) was just as hot as the say before. Sleep had not come easy, as it never really cooled down over night, and as soon as the neighbours were up, we had to forget all ideas about a bit more sleep. Instead, we had a quick coffee, got dressed and by 8:00 were out for a brief walk, returning home less than an hour later and not going anywhere for the rest of the day.
O.K. left at 8:00 pm and had a smooth drive home in spite of passing several violent thunderstorms, none of which made it to Ludwigsburg. I had thought about going for a sunset walk but decided against it, as there was no way to really know where the gusty wind was going to blow the thick black clouds.
Hard to believe that we‘re already past the summer solstice!
Sorry to hear about the heat! I know you all aren't used to such high temperatures and also don't have a/c. All the temps you mentioned are on the low side of normal for us. It's often much hotter than that and with very high humidity to boot. I'm starting to really hate summer, even with a/c. Heat really is exhausting!
ReplyDeleteIt‘s worse with high humidity, and your climate sounds tropical; ours doesn‘t get quite as bad as that. But, as you say, most people don‘t have a/c (although more and more have been looking into this over the last years, with our summers becoming hotter) and that makes the heat hard to bear, especially when you can‘t sleep.
DeleteIt is strange to think that it's now mid-summer. I never really think it's summer until August. 😧
ReplyDeleteSome years I feel "behind", too, always thinking "in summer, I'll do this and that" wheni summer is already actually there. This year, with the intense heat we're having it is impossible NOT to realise that summer is well and truly here.
DeleteWe've had nice weather here lately - I haven't had to use the A/C but next week it will be hotter so I will turn on the A/C then. I've been taking advantage of our nice weather now to get out for some walks and it's so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThose ice cream sundaes are HUGE! but they sure look delicious. I love ice cream - vanilla is my favorite.
Summer walks are lovely when it's not too hot. Right now, all I can do is try to do as much as possible in the slightly cooler morning hours; it gets too hot for walks during the day and stays hot well into the night.
DeleteIt does seem like the warmer months are going fast, doesn't it? We're hot here now but I think the past week wasn't as warm here as it was for you.
ReplyDeleteOur current heatwave is forecast to reach its peak this weekend, with temps at around 40/41C which is unheard of in my part of Germany - and it's still only June!
DeletePast the summer solstice ?
ReplyDeleteThe builders of the stone circle knew all about the solstice.
Stonehenge I visited in 1969 age 18. You could sleep there if you wanted.
A lady in her 80s told me they began to construct it in about 3000 BCE.
Flintheads used as tools 90, 000 years before were found nearby, the lady informed me.
Sorry you had a headache and exhaustion. You look so cool in the photo.
Gatsby said to Daisy Buchanan that she always looked so cool, even in New York heat.
These strange little places, like the quarry, are what make your blog a holiday.
It's been very hot in Scotland and in London & Cheltenham where my sisters live.
It's been in the low 30s during the day here for too many days in a row, and hasn't really been cooling off during the nights so that it is impossible to keep the flat cool. This weekend we're to expect 40C and possibly more. I am NOT looking forward to that.
DeleteI have never been to Stonehenge but as far as I know, while there has been extensive research about the place, there is still a lot we don't know about it, and of course that makes it all the more fascinating.
We're probably in for similar kind of gradually rising temperatures *this* week; I just keep hoping that we won't quite reach your highest figures... I'm tired enough as it is!
ReplyDeleteWe're to expect around 40C this weekend, and I am NOT looking forward to it!
DeleteI can't even imagine how I'd survive 40C!?? Worried enough already that we might reach 30C here. I can only wish you (and your loved ones) luck and ingenuity in managing to stay as 'cool' as possible... ♥
DeleteThank you! It's been around 26-27C in my bedroom and 28 in my kitchen; that's still lower than outdoors temperatures, but not much, and I don't like the stuffiness that comes with having the windows and blinds shut all day. But we'll survive, and at least I don't have to be out in the heat like some who have no choice because of work.
DeleteYou are doing a good job staying cool! Honestly, the heat is even harder to endure when you are old like me! Summer lasts so long now.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to stay cool now that we're to expect record highs, and with no a/c in the house and at the office. I can barely function!
DeleteIt's too hot for me here. As you say, flats are quite hard to keep cool. I'm thinking of buying a portable air con machine but everywhere is selling out of them! I admire your ability and creativity to fit in lots of walks even though you're working. But the sadness in this hot weather is that exercise becomes all but impossible. I went for a short walk before breakfast the last two days but it was still a bit too warm to really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI am not keen on air conditioning because of the dubious air quality and big difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors, which is not really good for our bodies, either. In an ideal world, we simply adapt to hot days by doing things early in the mornings or late evenings, but most of us don't have much choice. The only "walks" I have been having yesterday were between my house, the station in Ludwigsburg, the station in Weilimdorf and the office building there, and back.
DeleteIt is lovely to have hot weather and I am enjoying it here. Yesterday it was 33C and today is the same and may go higher. I can keep cool in the house and in the car I drive with the windows open. Of course I am lucky I don't have to work but I remember hot days in our office wherre we kept cool with the windows open and fans although if I sat in the wrong place with the fans I would end up with a dreadful stiff neck. Fans in my home are a no no. The harvest will be soon and the farmers are getting ready for the barley to be cut. Haymaking is also in full swing. I am sure you must see harvesting on your walks. Some members of the workforce need hot weather now and they enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI love summer weather but this has been too hot for everyone's liking, and way too dry - the farmers around here are not happy. Corn needs much more water than what little rain there was this month, and barley looks almost ready to harvest, too; about two weeks earlier than usual. Haymaking is in full swing; I can see that when I'm out, and of course there is the scent, which I love.
DeleteBuilders and craftsmen such as carpenters are suffering; yesterday a report on a local news journal said that up on a roof where roofers were working, they measured 50C in the midday sun, but work still had to go on, even at a reduced pace with more breaks in between to retreat to the shade and drink plenty of water.
If you keep the windows open here right now, you don't get any fresh air but all the heat comes in.
Usually, I love to keep my windows open all day, too, but not at 34C. It is only 6:00 am in the morning, and I already have 27C in my kitchen and 26C in my bedroom.
The south-facing offices at the company have cooling fans installed (not mine, as it faces north), but some of my colleagues complain about stiff necks and shoulder pain from them.
For this weekend, 40-41C are forecast here.
It sounds like you have been having the same heatwave as us. It's way too hot for me.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the TV weather people, this current heatwave (the second this month, and with record-breaking temperatures for June in this country) is coming from France, which is of course our next door neighbour - we often get our weather from there.
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