Tuesday 19th July 2022

UK historical records go back to 1659, but standardisation of record keeping did not emerge until the second half of the 19th century.

Tuesday was expected to be the hottest day on record in the UK, so, it would be a big news event. Even if the Daily Mail did try to make warnings of the extreme weather another front in their culture war. In the end, temperaturs of 40.3 centigrade/104.5 farenheit meant that the record wasn't just broken, but smashed.

Wildfires broke out around London, causing some destruction of homes and crops, meaning the Met Office's warnings were right.

Here in St Maggies, we at least live near the sea, and being up on the cliffs we should have a bit more breeze than most.

Even still, it was going to be hot.

Surprisingly, we slept OK, mainly due to using just a sheet not a duvet. And all windows wide open, except the bathroom as we are still stunned with Cleo's climbing skills from last week.

It was too warm to go for a walk even at six in the morning. We both had a shower and then had coffee.

Here we go.

All windows were open, blinds down and doors open, to allow a breeze to flow through.

It did get hot, very quikly. In fact, by eight the sun was already too hot to sit outside, even if the parasol meant just your knees were in the sunlight.

Cats scattered, most to some cool dark place, though Scully slept on the sofa. And during the day, Poppy came in, and stretched out in front of me. I had to look close to make sure she was still breathing.

Through the afternoon it got unbearable. The air weighed down making even the slightest movement to be so difficult.

Jools came back at half two, as we had some guys coming round to measure up our roof for solar panels. The young guy scuttled up the ladder, measured the roof and we then discussed what we wanted.

A plan was agreed and they would come back with a quote.

As soon as they left, Jools and I had the last two magnums, but sitting inside so I could watch the conclusion of Le Tour, where it was 15 degrees cooler than in London.

It was so hot here.

Salad again for dinner, and Jools had cider, I had ice cold beer. It had to be done.

Through the evening, clouds bubbled up and outside it got cooler, but upstairs in Chez Jelltex, it was like an oven.

An hour after going to bed, the storm arrived, not lasting long, but much flashing and crashing. But more imprtantly, it rained.