This morning, the last day of January, two thirds into summer I looked up and noticed the light streaming through the trees into our home. Why had I not noticed this before? Why had I not visited the beach? (Dot-to-dot patterns of tiny moles and freckles might have had something to do with it.) Why was I smiling again?
The temperature at 9.00am was below mid 20’s. The needle hadn’t pointed to 30 at eight in the morning. I can choose to take a dip in the pool – my life doesn’t depend on it. I won’t have to spend the day in wet soggy swimmers in order to get my chores done. I am free.
Every summer seems to get hotter as I let the flame of menopause lick my boiling head. We live in the hinterland, miles from sea breezes. Our house is nestled in a small valley. Our cottage is full of holes – all the better for snakes to get in but without basic insulation. “We can’t put in a air-conditioner. It won’t work unless everything is sealed,” the husband says. I’ll seal him if he doesn’t watch it.
Pool dips, cold water splashes. Sitting under fans. Mild heatstroke which had me peering into a bucket expecting a vegetarian panini to resurface.
I have an arsenal of cooling devices for bedtime. Ceiling fan, two pedestal fans strapped to the foot rest of our bed. A very loud machine with an internal fan. We filled it with ice and water and directed its flow to be swept up by the two aforementioned fans. Before bed I had a total immersion shower and headed upstairs with an ice bucket. I soaked a sarong in the water and draped it over my poor hot body. Soaked a small towel and placed it over my middle-aged glow-in-the-dark neck. The whole operation took about half an hour. I laid awake wondering how the husband had talked me into moving to Queensland.
We missed our lovely trip to New Zealand, cool breezes and cold oceans, because the husband broke his leg, had four operations and complications just before Christmas. He asked the doctor if air travel was possible. He mouthed the words DEATH and TRAP.
It’s getting worse for me every year but this year the husband kissed my beetroot coloured head before he went off to sleep, muttering something about research. Air-conditioner. Next year. I think I heard.
February please be kind. And hopefully next summer I’ll drift off to sleep in a polar blast of icy air, and my face will no longer be heart attack purple.
Julie Chilver 
As always a great piece Julie. So well described I can feel your temperature and see your home! Very well written! Don’t give up. Keep the good work going Julie!!
Thank you lovely, for your words of encouragement. It means a lot. XXX
It wont help you but NZ has had a really cool summer this year (so far). They had snow in Queenstown last week. We were on holiday in Taupo last week and it was much cooler than normal. Could actually sleep comfortably at night for change. Totally suited me as I find the normal summer temperatures far to warm. I hope you get the air conditioner anyway.
Ohhhh sweetheart … !!! I HATE humidity with the summer heat – at least we don’t (usually) get that stickiness here in WA except … right now … even I had the fan on the other night & I hate fans … that repetitive pulsing breeze, like a dry water-drip-torture … swish … swish … swish … I heard a remedy from a (bushfire) friend the other night – icepack in the pillow …??
How the ** is Andy anyways …? dun’ worry, we heard 🙂
GREAT writing!
Lots of love
xx
Thanks Julia. And thanks for the Christmas missive. Been meaning to contact you. The place looks amazing. As do you and Joe! Andrew’s accident a couple of days before Christmas. It took the entire emergency services to cut him out (except a helicopter – couldn’t land. Four ops (nearly lost his lower leg) due to complications with his blood disorder. Just about walking now but found out yesterday he probably needs another op. Bugger! Had to cancel NZ trip as he can’t fly. Christmas was crap. At least he still has all his limbs. 😀
Love JulesXOXOXOXOX
xxx. Hang in there. Both of you. Didja try the ice-pack-pillow? intrigued to know.
Lots of love xx
Hi Julia, the weather has remained hot but not super-hot at bedtime. What sort of ice-pack. Sounds like a good addition to my arsenal of cooling.
JulesX
😉 I dunno .. maybe one o’them eskie-blocks? in a plakky bag maybe … I’ll ask Paula when I next see her 😀 xxx Hot & humid here 2nite, but cool & storms on the way, weirdest summer ever …