14th May

We are due a heatwave this weekend and our weather has gone bonkers it is exceptionally hot so we were up early to get our jobs done before it was too warm to do so.  My job today was to paint the plinth that John has built under the old doors - this is now all looking tickety-boo and we are pleased with how that area is coming on.  All we need now are the new doors for the woodstore and the new doors for the potting bench (and the marble top) and that is DONE.

Another job which we got done today was to replace the top window on the left hand side of the kitchen door with a solid panel which will block out the view of the ironing board and floor swiffer.  We are in two minds as to whether or not we do the right hand one for symmetry as we are concerned it might make the kitchen even darker and John likes the glimpse you get of the swimming pool and garden through that one.

We can't do it at the moment anyway because it requires some aluminium being cut and so we will wait until Costas comes with the other doors for outside and ask him to do it then if we decide to go ahead.

Everywhere seemed too hot today - I know we shouldn't complain but somehow this year we don't seem to have had any preparation for the heat - I must have had an inkling though as I had taken the throw off our bed and washed it ready to go away and replaced it with what John refers to as The Wafer - a much thinner cellular throw which is really just there to keep the cats off our bedding.  The cats won't be happy but to be fair even they are finding it too warm on our bed now.



We put in a request to go down to check the post and then to go to the cemetery.  Isabel had been waiting for something to arrive which she hoped would be here before David's funeral on Friday.  There was post for  her so hopefully it will have been what she was waiting for.  We also went to check on Dad and could see that there had been a new plot opened which will be for David and the lady at the end of Dad's row is having her permanent surround built.  It is going to be so hot there on Friday afternoon - it is a good job that Angel Guardians are going to put up some sort of gazebo.  We will not be attending the service at the Chapel of Rest as the numbers are limited to six people but we will go to the graveside committal as she can have eight there.

When I say it has been hot today you can see what I mean when the conservatory thermometer showed 41.7 degrees at 5.00pm and this was with the doors open to get some breeze.  Still no humidity, that is what the LL% means, and that is a blessing.

As a reward for a job well done we had a drink out in the garden - I had fancied a shandy but saw lurking in the fridge a can of Rekorderlig Passion Fruit Cider.  Dad used to love a fruit cider and so I thought that might make a nice change.  What a mistake - the cold and the acid gave me the worst heartburn I have ever known - so much so that I actually had to go and lie down until it passed.  It did and then blow me if I didn't have my evening meal and a can of cold Pepsi and it came back again.

The Ration Book says - about the Women's Land Army
A handbook written for the new volunteer suggested that 'as other girls from the village do not use make-up, she (the volunteer) should not use it herself, so as not to look conspicuous.  She will find, too, that she will get such a healthy colour in her cheeks that rouge will not be necessary.