Is it just me counting the days & hours till this heatwave is supposed to end??

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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As title really.

I'm the South West (East Devon). It is as dry as a chip here. No grass anywhere! We are feeding soaked hay, which OK we would be doing anyway as ours are on a track with ad-lib haylage during the summer months (and then in the winter they go onto standing hay).

But by golly it is the dang HEAT. Non-stop incessant heat. If you haven't done what you need to do either before 8am or after 8pm, then it just ain't gonna get done, period. It is just too hot to do any outside jobs, we're riding at 6.30am coz it is just too hot to ride later and as our horses are rehabbing currently we have to ride every day!

Sick of sweating and just feeling tired-all-the-time with the heat. Sick of the blazing sunshine which reflects back up off my concrete yard which makes it ten-times worse.

The horses have actually got it pretty good: we've got this lovely old oak tree in the middle of our 10-acre field which the three separate paddocks converge at, which means that the three horses sharing the area can meet up under the tree, each in their own separate "bit", and yet still talk to each other under the tree. It really couldn't be better. Lucky things! Meanwhile there's haynets to fill up, buckets to lug, poo to pick up, etc etc.

Can't even go shopping for anything like frozens as it will just melt on the way home if you've parked at the supermarket in a hot car!

Sleeping at night, you can just forget it, it's way too hot even with the window open. The poor dog is a rescue and she came from Cyprus so does know how to cope in a hot climate. My birds (banties & Guinea Fowls) are struggling too. I've moved the banties to a coop under the trees so they will be OK, but the Guinea's are just totally disorientated by it.

My ankles have swollen up so I'm finding it hard to get anything to put on them now. Am trying to find space to sit down and put them up. Crazy. Also I can't wear shorts and short-sleeved tops as have been bitten, not by horseflies but by these horrid little black-flies that are around at the moment; one of my livery's horses has been bitten really badly by them.

The countryside around is looking like we're well into autumn; on our ride this morning the Silver Birch trees are dropping, the oaks are turning, and everything along the grass verges is yellow-tinged.

But........ apparently the weather is set to change on Sunday?? Not that it will reverse the Autumnal process, coz it won't. But perhaps it won't be sooh darned hot??? I've been to the tropics, to Ghana in Africa, in the past, and can't say as how I felt quite so whacked from the heat there than I do now.

Can't even drink alcohol as it dehydrates too much!!

Anyone else who'll be celebrating hugely when (ohh please god!) the weather changes???
 

honetpot

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It feels like living in some desert western movie. We had a field fire two weekends ago, 150 acres blowing our way, so everything is rotating between the winter thrash paddock, and the large shed. I am lucky as I have straw left over from two years ago.
I worked yesterday in air con, but am I tired today, I am already sat indoors waiting for 7pm. Found out my husband put mince on the shopping list, if he thinks I am cooking ******* mince!
 

Horseysheepy

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Can't wait till Monday afternoon when we have rain, well apparently we are, it might change by then!!!

Last night, about 9.30 my partner and I sat in one of our sheep fields, it was utter bliss, bats were fluttering above us and the breeze was rustling the tall trees around us. Horses munching their hay in the next field across, they're fed up of eating beige food now!

The house is like a cooker!
Bring on the rain!!!
 

AdorableAlice

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Drumming my fingers. I really don't want to be out on a hack at times when I should still be asleep in bed!
.

I'm thinking about having a nap after being tacked up and out for 5.30am for the third morning running, 2 more mornings to do. It is actually rather lovely once I am out there, this morning was very pleasant and the flies were not around either.

Cobs washed and finished until midday so it is a decision between a snooze or the housework.......
 

Red-1

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I have adapted. Jobs done early and been lake swimming three times a week. I seem to get chilled and stay chilled for an hour or two after getting out of the water, so do jobs then.

Been riding early or late, swapped field times around, stables are cool, and have been having a siesta at the same time as horses/dogs. The car air con is lovely, plus I bought an air con unit for the house. It was around £400 and keeps the sitting room cool while I do the afternoon snooze.

Happily, I am on summer holidays from work (school). I guess it is easy to adapt when your time is your own.
 

Odyssey

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I'm finding it a nightmare. Having ME affects your temperature regulation, so I'm even more exhausted than usual as the heat totally drains me. I have to stay indoors all day once it's above the low 20's, so I barely see anyone during the summer as the little socialising I do is usually during the day. I need to space activities out, such as they are, to avoid overdoing it and now have to walk my dog and do the other stuff all in the evening, as I can't function physically in the morning. I'm longing for September, and bearable temperatures. I know that I'm lucky not to have to go out during the day, I feel so sorry for people who are out working in it, or driving for a living without air con. I really don't know how they do it.
 

lynz88

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The heat itself doesn't bother me - I like it. It is the lack of rain and feeling like living in a dustbowl and the super super hard ground that is actually starting to get to me and I think poor arthritic horse.
 

twofatladies88

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Absolutely hate it and so do my ponies. I had one hours sleep last night due to neighbours having a party. I put up with the noise and was lying in bed when I smelt smoke. Went out to find they had a huge bonfire. My house stunk of smoke and my throat is still sore. This was 2am! Furious doesn’t even come close. Two nights ago we had a combine on fire a bit further down our lane- thought we might have to evacuate so was hanging about with that. There have been 8 combines gone up in flames in the last few days in the county plus a lot of wildfires/hedges/stubble and the eejits next door thought it was ok to light a fire. So now I’m even more grumpy than usual having had no sleep and being too hot. So yes roll on Monday!
 

Peregrine Falcon

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I'm not a lover of heat at all. Had hoped to take a pony to show today. Not a chance in this heat, nor will I be going to look round. Shame for the organisers as it the first show since 2018. Weather and covid have put a halt to the last 3 years.

The ground is rock hard, the grass crunches underfoot. Found a drowned wren in a water bucket in the barn. Had fun banging in a wooden fencing post last night.

Get jobs done as early as possible then retire to the sofa!! Can't even enjoy an ice cream as on a weight loss mission. ?
 

PurBee

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Here in west ireland weve had a heat wave of about 1 week only, so we’re nowhere near as cooked as you folk in the uk! I love and hate the heat - ive switched my work hours around - routine is mad really, staying up later when its cool to do physical work, as i melt in the heat. Its 30 today! Woohoo…sends me a bit bonkers happy!

ohhhh i love the blue skies! ?? im planning on a move to a sunnier climate and this type of weather is a good test for coping.
Love the cool stone barns and the shady windy alley i have in a small copse area. The horses are doing well…arabs may tolerate the heat better…theyve plenty of cool shady breezy places to have a snooze.
 

Flowerofthefen

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Can't wait for it to end!! Horses are actually coping OK but I'm not!! We have rain forecast for 3 days next week then rumour has it we are in for some flooding the week after!! Think I'd prefer the heat!!
 

Pinkvboots

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I'm thinking about having a nap after being tacked up and out for 5.30am for the third morning running, 2 more mornings to do. It is actually rather lovely once I am out there, this morning was very pleasant and the flies were not around either.

Cobs washed and finished until midday so it is a decision between a snooze or the housework.......

I have been having a snooze in the afternoon ?
 

Pinkvboots

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Here in west ireland weve had a heat wave of about 1 week only, so we’re nowhere near as cooked as you folk in the uk! I love and hate the heat - ive switched my work hours around - routine is mad really, staying up later when its cool to do physical work, as i melt in the heat. Its 30 today! Woohoo…sends me a bit bonkers happy!

ohhhh i love the blue skies! ?? im planning on a move to a sunnier climate and this type of weather is a good test for coping.
Love the cool stone barns and the shady windy alley i have in a small copse area. The horses are doing well…arabs may tolerate the heat better…theyve plenty of cool shady breezy places to have a snooze.

Yes come down here if you like the heat been having sangria and porn star martini's in the evenings out on the patio it really has felt like a big long holiday.
 

Callieann

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I am really struggling to cope with it. Spending all day indoors with curtains and blinds closed but sweat is still running off me. I love to see the sun but I can't sit out in it as I just end up feeling sick and headachy. really don't get how some people can feel comfortable with so much heat. Horses could do with coming in out of sun but stables are 10 degrees hotter than outside.Have been going down to yard lunch times to hose them down. Travelling to the yard is a nightmare five minutes along the road and clothes are stuck to me and I can barely see with sweat running down my face. I think I must have a faulty thermostat ?
 

splashgirl45

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I’m glad it’s not only me that can’t cope. I have trouble sleeping anyway and now am lucky if I get more than 3 hours. I am taking my dogs out early, then doing anything that needs doing in the garden. That takes me to 8 am and it’s already hot!!! Then breakfast and watch a bit of tv if I can keep my eyes open. There are loads of things I need to do but can’t be bothered in the heat. My ankles have swollen so I put a pillow at the base of the bed and try and keep my feet on it as much as poss. I start the day ok but the ankles get worse during the day , feel relieved it’s not only me ?
 

sakura

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Having a full time job and taking daily medication that affects my ability to cope in the heat is horrible :( things are on fire, we’re in a drought and just leaving the house is miserable. I’m longing for the temps to drop by 5-10c!
 

Pmf27

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I absolutely adore the sun and would be happy for it to stay like this forever, but I can't stand the heat.

So no, not just you! Poo picking is usually my switch-off-and-enjoy-a-mundane-task moment, but it's hell in this heat and I'm just grumbling to myself as I move around the field ?
 

GreyDot

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The heat is tolerable, don't mind getting up early and getting things done and the horses have now got used to it (the mini intense heatwave we had a few weeks ago really took it out of them, but they are coping much better now).
It's the rock hard ground which is getting me. Arena is too deep due to no rain and can't train on hacks as every where is rock solid and cracked/rutted. So even though I am up early, I can't actually do much work with the horses.
 

Landcruiser

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Absolutely hate it and so do my ponies. I had one hours sleep last night due to neighbours having a party. I put up with the noise and was lying in bed when I smelt smoke. Went out to find they had a huge bonfire. My house stunk of smoke and my throat is still sore. This was 2am! Furious doesn’t even come close. Two nights ago we had a combine on fire a bit further down our lane- thought we might have to evacuate so was hanging about with that. There have been 8 combines gone up in flames in the last few days in the county plus a lot of wildfires/hedges/stubble and the eejits next door thought it was ok to light a fire. So now I’m even more grumpy than usual having had no sleep and being too hot. So yes roll on Monday!
I would have called the fire brigade. I think stern words would have been spoken to your neighbours!
 

SEL

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Also doing a rain dance. Ride early but I'm poo picking after that and dripping when I finish. Baby cob is in desperate need of having the brakes off (he is definitely not tiring in the heat) but ground is now lethal even through the woods. I am tiring in the heat and thinking I need a human calming cookie before we boing sideways down the bridlepath again. Or gin. With ice
 

Crazy_cat_lady

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Sick of the heat, it feels like we haven't had a cool day for months.

It's just this horrible relentless oppressive heat. So glad I'm out of horses I've been off work and just hiding inside.

Now on holiday, it is hot but its a different kind of heat. If you're hot unless you're on am excursion you can go and cool off in the pool, it's absolutely bliss.

The UK heat is just vile, bring on winter, I hate summer at the best of times I long for the cosy dark wet nights listening to the wind while I lie snug in my bed reading. Yes please.

Trouble is we are no longer safe in September either as the damn heat keeps sticking around
 
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