Today is the second day of the heatwave that’s hit the UK. Record breaking temperatures have been recorded, with the heat reaching over 40 degrees Celcius for the first time since records began. As I sit here typing this, a fan blowing hot air across my sweaty face, it’s around 33 degrees inside the house. Thankfully the weather is due to change overnight with a cold front pushing in from the west. This will take us down to the frigid depths of the low-twenties if the forecast is to be believed. Thursday morning may see the mercury only reach the high teens! I can’t wait.
I had to visit Birmingham yesterday for a business meeting and was not looking forward to the trip. However, despite taking longer than expected and being beset by signall and point failures on both legs of the journey, it wasn’t as bad as I had feared. The train was air conditioned to a reasonable level, as was the building where the meeting took place, so it was really only the bits on foot between air-conditioned venues and modes of transport that were uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I was still very happy to get back home – even if the house was hot as a sauna!
I’ve taken a bit of time back this afternoon as it was really uncomfortable in my office today and I wasn’t getting much productive work done, and spent the time flopped on the sofa watching TV shows with a fan blowing on me. Occasionally I would drench my head with water and then let it evaporate away for the pleasant cooling effect it produces.
I’ve literally only turned the PC on just not in order to write the blog, and will probably switch it back off again straight after I’m done – it just acts as a glorified heater otherwise, especially if I’m not actually using it, so I might as well reduce the heat and electricity use.
It’s been oddly quiet when I’ve looked out the windows today, it reminded me a little of when the pandemic lockdowns were taking place. Today’s photo feels illustrative of the way it has felt.
Olympus 35 RC & Ilford FP4+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 10mins @ 20°.
Taken on 11 May 2022
Steel City Snapper photography 