It's warming up

The latest heat wave has set in and the weather is already very warm. This is just the start and, apparently, it will be scorching before the weekend!

As a result we tend to do very little during the heat of the day. Long siestas in the afternoon have become de rigueur. They allow us to escape the heat of the day and, perhaps, catch up on our sleep, after sweltering nights that results in us waking ridiculously early in the morning. 

Today started with an early walk down the lane with the dogs.

I then had a relatively lazy day, choosing little jobs, in the shade wherever possible.

I got the tomatoes watered before the heat of the day set in and noticed that my beetroot have already started to sprout. I only planted them last Thursday, so they have done really well. I just hope they can endure the roasting they will get this week.

After sorting out the vegetable crops I headed out to the garage and checked that the Moto Guzzi would start. It hadn't been run since last year, so I needed to make sure it was ready to be ridden to its MOT test this coming Friday.

I then attended to a little job that 30% had. present to me a couple of days ago. She casually mentioned that she had a bird feeder that needed repairing. I initially thought it would be an easy job, until she handed over a weighty item constructed from slate. A vital component would no longer remain in place, resulting in a bird feeder that wouldn't hold bird food..

I was going to need to cut some replacement sections of slate and find a glue that would work with stone. I found an old roofing slate, and, luckily, remembered that Gorilla Glue is suitable for repairing stone and brick.

I then spent a happy hour sorting out the repair, but have to report that cutting slate with an angle grinder in hot weather was not a pleasant experience. I ended up very dusty and gritty.

After a shower I felt vaguely human, but my evening plans were going to result in getting hot and sweaty once more.  

When we fished last week I had asked Bubbles if he fancied a ride out on his bike. He had mention that there was a Bike Meet at the Aviator Cafe at Staverton Airport near Cheltenham, and he was keen to go. I grudgingly agreed.*

So this evening saw a ride through traffic choked roads to a sun drenched, shade free aerodrome on the outskirts of Cheltenham. To be fair, it was a reasonable event and we had a pleasant time wandering around and chatting, but it was very hot.

We left at a reasonable hour and I was allowed to select our route home.** I picked a lovely winding route that zigged and zagged through the villages to the East of the A46.

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* Biker's Meets are alright once in a while, but they are all very formulaic. You turn up. There are lots of other people who have also ridden their bike there. You wander around and peruse the various machines, then queue for an overpriced burger and a soft drink. It's OK once in a while, but some unimaginative individuals do this every week across the Summer! 

** Bubbles chose the route there and it was not good. An unimaginative run along the Cheltenham road from Evesham, via the traffic jammed outskirts of Tewkesbury, before eventually reaching Staverton.