Summer ... can be a busy time!

Yes, summer can be busy, it can be glorious sunshine, or horrible wet rain! Well it wouldn't be dry rain would it!!!
In fact I think tonight in some areas of the UK it's going to turn a little chilly.

Grandson had a wonderful visit to Ober Water recently. You may not have heard of this place - see more here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2006/04/11/new_forest_ober_walk_feature.shtml

When asked did he have a wonderful time, yes was his reply, and I got a bit wet too Grandma - well you would wouldn't you!!!
LOL!

At this time of the year school seems to get even busier for both pupils and teachers.
It's the schools summer fayres soon! We've bought our raffle tickets!
Watch this space - will we win a prize

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Summer solstice: Thousands gather at Stonehenge for longest day
Yes Stonehenge has been in the news, not too sure what the traffic was like around and about - busy no doubt!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-44558588

Whatever you may be doing over the summer months ... enjoy

All the best Jan

Oh that takes me back!

Many of the commons here - the Suffolk Sandlings - are like the New Forest in miniature. As the heather is starting to flower, one of them is covered in Silver Studded Blue butterflies. Absolutely adorable and second only to Adonis Blues in intensity.

Just watch out for the ticks! At least I suspect the doctors in the New Forest will be aware of Lyme disease, not so likely elsewhere when holidaymakers contract it and then go home.

It's always nice to see butterflies, better to see them in their natural surroundings. However, we do sometimes go to 'Butterfly Houses' - it's always so warm in them and the grandchildren, as well as us, enjoy them.


Yes, that's a good point about ticks
www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-ticks/

I just think wherever you are take care …


And as it's Saturday as I type, hope everyone who may read this enjoys the weekend.

All the best Jan

Once again, scorchio! I did some shopping, drove around a bit then sat in the sun at Hen Reedbeds talking to various folks and not seeing several of the expected birds.

It's warming up here too, we've had plenty of sunshine over recent days but a cooling breeze has taken the edge of the temperature.  the last couple of days have gradually got warmer and the week ahead looks like it's going to be hot  thankfully it's not expected to get humid

       

What a glorious day it's been beautiful sunshine, blue skies and a slight breeze …
Long may it last, and if we are going to have rain could it rain at night please!

Talking summer flowers - it looks as if it's going to be a good year for geraniums, we have some beautiful pink and red ones growing … need to keep them watered … as I think we are in for more sunshine tomorrow

All the best Jan

Yes the drought is starting to bite here, lots of grass going brown and flowers wilting and dying completely. I'm reminded a bit of the summer of 76, and also 1990.

Definitely sun screen cream/lotion weather again …

Although so sorry to see the fires on Saddleworth Moor - lets hope they can be contained/brought under control soon.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-44624021


All the best Jan

chris c wrote:Yes the drought is starting to bite here, lots of grass going brown and flowers wilting and dying completely. I'm reminded a bit of the summer of 76, and also 1990.

Agreed very similar to the heatwave of 76 grass verges here are turning brown too, I'm having to water the bedding plants daily and had to use the sprinkler on the lawns which is not good when I'm on a meter   it's a complete contrast to last summers washout but hey I'm not complaining   

Think we should expect a hosepipe ban if the dry weather continues

The hosepipe ban will probably come in just as the drought breaks.

The Saddleworth Moor fire sounds disastrous. A far cry from the old saying "if you can see the top of t'fell it's going to rain soon. If you can't see it it's already raining."

I remember something similar but smaller back in 1976, I set off south from Bristol on a day run and noticed the colour of a big patch of heather in flower on top of the Mendips. When I returned several hours later the hilltop was on fire and covered in fire engines.

Another warm sunny day … or should that be HOT

I noticed today Northern Ireland have introduced a hosepipe ban and other areas are being asked to use water carefully …

All the best Jan

Lots of irrigation sprayers on some of the vegetable fields, I had to quickly close the car windows before I got soaked.

At least the farms involved have their own reservoirs and aren't far from the rivers so the water makes its way back into circulation.

Got ans e-mail from United Utilities   not as yet a hose pipe ban but if the dry weather continues  don't think it will be long   

Hi,

The hot weather means we're seeing a massive increase in water consumption across our area. Yesterday an additional half a billion litres was used and it has been the same today. We urgently need your help and support to avoid a hosepipe ban. You can help us by turning off your garden sprinklers, not using your hosepipes and taking shorter showers and not baths this weekend. The demand is so high, particularly during peak times, that we are struggling to get enough water around the system quick enough. If we can all do our bit this will reduce the risk of lower water pressure or no water at all.

Thank you, we really appreciate your help.

It makes sense to conserve water …

Once again, it's been very hot again today, I sometimes think too hot … or is that just me?

All the best Jan

Yes they are claiming that the problem is not with low levels in the reservoirs, as has occurred in other years, but with the ability to treat it and pump it through the pipes fast enough. Just a thought but perhaps they should have put in bigger pipes when they built all those extra houses.

I'm in two minds about the heat, it makes a nice change but only as long as I don't want to do much. I'm currently walking a lot less and sitting a lot more.

We actually had two very light showers of rain today …
Having not experienced rain for quite a time it was a bit of a novelty
Just wishing we could have had more …

Having just said that what's the betting that in a few weeks time I'll be saying - please no more rain!

All the best Jan

Yes ISTR that was what happened when the 1976 drought broke.

Meanwhile farmers are saying the potato crop will be badly affected. No-one's mentioned the sugar beet yet, it looks like a lot more was planted this year and that tends to need a lot of irrigation. Hopefully the grazing cows and sheep will do OK or I'm in trouble.

Phewwwwwww ……

Hot, hot, hot again today with a lot more to come.
Even the squirrel was using the bird bath water today

All the best Jan

Well, the thread is called - Summer ... can be a busy time !

Have to say these warmer days , I seem to be moving even slower

All the best Jan

I know the location of every seat and grassy bank for miles . . .

Well it's Monday again, for some the start of a new week at work … for others, they may be enjoying retirement, whatever you are doing have a good week!

It's certainly been warm again ... but are there any like me wishing it were a little cooler!
Rain would be good too!

Oh dear, I'm not moaning ... really I'm not  

All the best Jan

Amazing, after the shopping I drove round the pretty way intending to go sit on another seat in the sun but I got hit by a veritable deluge. Probably because the ground is so dry the rain was staying on the surface and in one dip in the road there was almost a flood. In the distance was something that at first looked like a tornado but I'm pretty sure it was a column of smoke from a field fire or possibly a combine self-immolating from the dust.

Back home and there hadn't been a drop.

Rained most of the day on Monday which was good for the garden especially the lawns, today has been dry apart from a short shower in the morning, it's a lot cooler too but still pleasant and should make it better for sleeping 

Coming early August a hosepipe ban 

So I was hearing on the news.

Hot and sticky again today, I sat in the sun watching almost no birds at the Hen Reedbeds. Thunderstorms are rumoured later.

Nice day today mostly cloudless sky and warm, rain forecast for tomorrow before it starts warming up again in time for the weekend