Today is the second day in a row that the cold north east wind has ceased to blow on our little Isle of Thanet. It seemed like everyone in the UK was enjoying warm and sunny weather during the last month or so. Here, we have had long days of sunshine but accompanied by a wind straight from the North Pole!

Yesterday morning I walked into the conservatory and found that the temperature was 30°C! What a change from the day before when it was 17°. I’ve been using the conservatory more over the past month or so but, even with the sun shining outside, it wasn’t warm enough for short sleeves.

I started this post partly because someone had a look at my archives earlier today. It’s not exactly unknown but it’s always pleasant to see. Today’s person, unlike all the others who have looked at something I have written, comes from an ‘unknown’ place!

I’m fascinated when I find that I’ve had views from places like Bangladesh, China, Finland and other non-English speaking countries. I try to work out why, for example, 3 different people in China would look at a certain post on the same day. Usually, I come to the conclusion that my posts are being used for English lessons – and that’s great. It must mean that my writing is useful.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

I started writing this post a week or so ago. It feels like each day has arrived hotter than the previous day which has ended up being way too hot for Lola and me! I have spent most of those days indoors where it is reasonably cool – no air-con, just an Edwardian house aided by the sea breezes and open doors and windows.

One afternoon I ventured into the garden and put out my reclining garden chair. I had to put the garden umbrella up and tilt it in such a way that my head and most of my body was in shade so I could read but, 10 minutes was enough!

I think age has something to do with this dislike of heat. When I was a child, living in Ohio which was hot and humid in the summers, I loved playing out in the sunshine. Unlike Judy who had the palest of pale skins, I have skin which always looks slightly tanned – I think it’s called ‘olive’. Where Judy would burn from just a few minutes in the sunshine, I could spend all day and only get slightly more tan. (Jennie, on the other hand, tanned beautifully, without trying!)

A few more days have passed and it is still too blooming hot! Apparently, it will cool down a bit either tomorrow or the next day – not soon enough for me and for Lola who spends most of her time lying on the ground, panting or lying on a chair, panting.

Well, this old lady is going to venture into the garden now to give the plants a bit of encouragement.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Aaaaannnnnd, it’s now July and, as it always does, the British weather has changed again. Last night it rained fairly heavily for about 6 hours – no need to water the plants today! Perhaps the rain was connected to Storm Poly which has hit the Netherlands with strong winds and masses of rain as we’re not too far from that part of Europe, here in Thanet. Veronica and her fella were off to Amsterdam for a quick visit and arrived at St. Pancras this morning to find that no trains are running to (or in) Holland!

The garden has looked really pretty this spring and early summer. Our ‘flower meadow’ (a triangular shape in the centre of the garden filled with wild flowers) has been stunning with loads of pink flowers a few weeks ago followed by loads of big daisies. They’re dying back now and the triangle will look a bit blah for a while but there are seeds galore for the birds – and a few teasels, which will produce some amazing flowers which the bees love.