Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Phew what a scorcher!
The summer holidays are almost upon us and as I long for the rolling hills and tranquility of Somerset and the rugged coastline of the Cornish coast, fish ’n’ chips by the sea, garden cream teas, I’m also looking forward to chasing the cooler weather in the UK.
However, that rare occurrence that sends Brits into as much of a flurry as the once-every-three-years snowfall: The Heatwave, has firmly arrived.
Britain has been roasting in blistering sunshine and there are predictions for the longest heatwave in more than four decades.
It doesn’t matter that Brits have been moaning for months and months about the rain and wind, the sun is now scorching, bringing it with 30 degrees temperatures and everyone you talk to just says: it’s just too hot!
There are major benefits to this soaring warm weather, being able to swim and surf in the Atlantic Ocean without head-to-toe wetsuits, being able to BBQ without the use of umbrellas, not having to drink endless cups of tea just to warm up, Wimbledon without a washout, but getting around is tricky and sticky.
Roads are melting in the heat, train tracks are buckling, everyone is complaining about not sleeping and everyone is talking about the hosepipe ban, which has already been enforced in some parts of the UK but the betting suggests the whole nation could be hit with a ban by the time the summer is up.
So for the next few days I shall try not to complain about the increasing temperature and humidity here in Bahrain, the noise of the efficient AC, the drip of the hosepipe, the irregularity of the garden water sprinklers and hope that well-needed rain arrives to the UK, soaks the crops and gardens, softening the terrain, just in time for our visit and then the sun can shine again.
We will see, I may just pack the wet suits and umbrella just in case.
