Stormy Weather

[Anna]

for those like me who can't abide stifling hot sleepless nights, tomorrow is probably the limit for internal ventilation purposes.

Last night was so airless, my problem is due to design of where I am I'm virtually sleeping in the roof space and even with windows open there was no gentle wafts of air so saly's hammock in the garden sounds wonderful. 25 degrees today (75F) and nice breeze this am but that's gone. Never had hayfever before but I feel like I've got something, visited a friend a few days ago who's recovering from flu ..... Feel decidedly ropey but it is so lovely to see blue sky and sunshine (I think London has it a lot hotter) after it breaks at weekend I think we are back to sunshine?

[salymap]

Last night was so airless, my problem is due to design of where I am I'm virtually sleeping in the roof space and even with windows open there was no gentle wafts of air so saly's hammock in the garden sounds wonderful. 25 degrees today (75F) and nice breeze this am but that's gone. Never had hayfever before but I feel like I've got something, visited a friend a few days ago who's recovering from flu ..... Feel decidedly ropey but it is so lovely to see blue sky and sunshine (I think London has it a lot hotter) after it breaks at weekend I think we are back to sunshine?

Anna, I've lived here on and off since I was ten years old. When about fourteen in this sort of weather I decided to sleep in my hammock, quite a way from the house. I stuck it out until fox noises nearby, an owl hooting in one of the trees holding the hammock and strange rustling noises sent me creeping back indoors atabout midnight.

You are probably made of sterner stuff. saly

[Anna]

Anna, I've lived here on and off since I was ten years old. When about fourteen in this sort of weather I decided to sleep in my hammock, quite a way from the house. I stuck it out until fox noises nearby, an owl hooting in one of the trees holding the hammock and strange rustling noises sent me creeping back indoors atabout midnight.
You are probably made of sterner stuff. saly

Oh, I do love the sounds of the owls hooting here, I sometimes listen out for them before I decide to go to sleep, somehow it's a comfort to think of them swooping silently. But then, they must sound different to a 10 year old!! We never see foxes here, no need for them to venture forth for food, there's enough wild countryside here for them to be well fed but sometimes, in November, the screams when they are calling for mates is quite chilling!

[Serial_Apologist]

Last night was so airless, my problem is due to design of where I am I'm virtually sleeping in the roof space and even with windows open there was no gentle wafts of air so saly's hammock in the garden sounds wonderful. 25 degrees today (75F) and nice breeze this am but that's gone. Never had hayfever before but I feel like I've got something, visited a friend a few days ago who's recovering from flu ..... Feel decidedly ropey but it is so lovely to see blue sky and sunshine (I think London has it a lot hotter) after it breaks at weekend I think we are back to sunshine?

Just about 24 C here, probably our maximum for the day. Amazingly clear atmosphere, cloudless deep blue aky horizon to horizon, courtesy Walter Wall , cooling light breeze, enough to lose my page just now reading outside in the shade! - but boy, does that sun feel hot ! Even the lovely Brazilians living upstairs say eets juzz lika home. Still 19 C in the flat, keeping to my advice in the previous message; so my sympathies go to you, Anna. I tell you - if you were to sleep outdoors here, you'd be eaten by mosquitoes. The biggest I've seen anywhere, including the S of France! Can't think how they come to be here - the nearest water is a good half mile away in Crystal Palace Park, where they held the Limp pic torch handover this morning. My new Brazilian friends went along, as the Brazilian team have chosen the stadium there as their training ground.

I have a funeral to attend tomorrow midday in E London - the saxophone player Lol Coxhill, whom I knew quite well for about 25 years. Part of the journey there takes me through Stratford

[Anna]

I have a funeral to attend tomorrow midday in E London - the saxophone player Lol Coxhill, whom I knew quite well for about 25 years. Part of the journey there takes me through Stratford

S_A, sympathies for loss of your friend. I did see the thread about him on the Jazz board. Hope you give him a good send off.
Never see a mosquito here, I am near the river but not near any standing water (and anyway, even in S. of France they don't bite me, I don't think they find me toothsome!)
Edit: I will take your advice and when I leave in early morning will leave upstairs windows shut and curtains closed.

[Serial_Apologist]

S_A, sympathies for loss of your friend. I did see the thread about him on the Jazz board. Hope you give him a good send off.
Never see a mosquito here, I am near the river but not near any standing water (and anyway, even in S. of France they don't bite me, I don't think they find me toothsome!)

Thanks Anna - hope you feel well soon

[DracoM]

Just seen Test match and clear that a major heatwave / sunfest going on darn sarff. Up here in Ultima Thule it is grey, humid and depressing with rain always threatening.

[EdgeleyRob]

in this sort of weather I decided to sleep in my hammock,

Sweltering in Manchester,glad I was in work.

[Lateralthinking1]

Anna, I hope you are feeling well soon and Serial_Apologist, best wishes for tomorrow.



I went to the Hever Castle gardens today. Pricey so took a picnic but a lovely setting with nice Italian gardens and beautiful 38 acre lake. Watched a duck and six ducklings for an hour along with rowing boats. More people than expected with many children, well behaved, doing archery and painting flags. A bit Womad in that sense. There is so much space there, it still felt nicely empty. The people at reception and in the shops were professional and friendly. Glorious weather too. A relaxing and enjoyable day out.

[salymap]

Anna, I hope you are feeling well soon and Serial_Apologist, best wishes for tomorrow.





I went to the Hever Castle gardens today. Pricey so took a picnic but a lovely setting with nice Italian gardens and beautiful 38 acre lake. Watched a duck and six ducklings for an hour along with rowing boats. More people than expected with many children, well behaved, doing archery and painting flags. A bit Womad in that sense. There is so much space there, it still felt nicely empty. The people at reception and in the shops were professional and friendly. Glorious weather too. A relaxing and enjoyable day out.

Haven't been to Hever for years, Lat1, a lovely house. Isn't it connected Henry 8th somehow?

Sympathy to S-A and get well to Anna. I may sit in the garden rather than listen to the concert, it will be on again.

[Serial_Apologist]

Haven't been to Hever for years, Lat1, a lovely house. Isn't it connected Henry 8th somehow?

Sympathy to S-A and get well to Anna. I may sit in the garden rather than listen to the concert, it will be on again.

Thanks again, saly.

I keep a huge pile of visitor catalogues to English Heritage and National Trust properties - in consequence of which I never need to re-visit these lovely places, and visitors and guests get free tours of the places I've been to.

[Lateralthinking1]

Haven't been to Hever for years, Lat1, a lovely house. Isn't it connected Henry 8th somehow?

Sympathy to S-A and get well to Anna. I may sit in the garden rather than listen to the concert, it will be on again.

Salymap, It was the seat of the Boleyn family. Anne spent her youth at Hever and might have been born there. On the death of Anne's father, Henry VIII acquired it and bestowed it upon Anne of Cleves. I was amused by a note from David Starkey in the leaflet which could be read as a dig at Henry:

"Hever Castle, once the home of that great figure of Tudor history, Anne Boleyn".

Like you, I went to the castle many years ago, twice I think in the seventies, and while impressive it also seemed a little drab. There was hardly a soul there and I think it rained. Later it was closed to the public for many years by a private owner. Now it is owned by a private company, is open to the public and very diverse in what it offers -

http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/.

But I am not sure that the website does it full justice as it all looks rather corporate. These reviews from ordinary members of the public sum up far better the character of the place, now vibrant and yet tranquil. I hope you will be able to visit it again - Lat.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g503908-d214779-Reviews-Hever_Castle-Hever_Sevenoaks_District_Kent_England.html

[Serial_Apologist]

Salymap, It was the seat of the Boleyn family. Anne spent her youth at Hever and might have been born there. On the death of Anne's father, Henry VIII acquired it and bestowed it upon Anne of Cleves. I was amused by a note from David Starkey in the leaflet which could be read as a dig at Henry:

"Hever Castle, once the home of that great figure of Tudor history, Anne Boleyn".

Like you, I went to the castle many years ago, twice I think in the seventies, and while impressive it also seemed a little drab. There was hardly a soul there and I think it rained. Later it was closed to the public for many years by a private owner. Now it is owned by a private company, is open to the public and very diverse in what it offers -

http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/.

But I am not sure that the website does it full justice as it all looks rather corporate. These reviews from ordinary members of the public sum up far better the character of the place, now vibrant and yet tranquil. I hope you will be able to visit it again - Lat.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...t_England.html

Well worth a visit, to endorse Lat's cautious recommendation. The car park was free when I took my dad there in the 1980s.

I seem to remember that there are more castles/stately homes in Kent than in any other county in Britain.

[antongould]

Well worth a visit, to endorse Lat's cautious recommendation. The car park was free when I took my dad there in the 1980s.

I seem to remember that there are more castles/stately homes in Kent than in any other county in Britain.

We all know there's more of everything, including sunshine, in Kent than in any other county and more than in many nation states.

[Serial_Apologist]

We all know there's more of everything, including sunshine, in Kent than in any other county and more than in many nation states.

But for the sheer friendlines and honesty of its people, no county surpasses Northumberland.