88 Degrees Fahrenheit

We began the day leaving Martin in the garden while we shopped at Tesco for general stores.

It was probably hotter than this title today, and, apart from spending the day staggering up and down the garden plying him with drinks I reflected that in my not so distant youth I would have done as Martin did and worked all day. Now I was completely washed out.

This led me to search my archives for a reference to the Bolton marathon. Inserting the temperature in this title I came up with https://derrickjknight.com/2012/08/11/a-welsh-interlude/. The said race is only part of a post inspired by a hot day in France.

The Bolton course is described, the hottest one of my three events at it being the one mentioned in addition to my diversion in honour of my grandmother. On the train down from London I had met a young man of 18 proudly claiming to run a fast race. I warned him, especially in the heat, to take it steady. He wouldn’t listen. I passed him at the 5 mile point. He was walking and wringing wet. I doubt that he finished the course.

Today I have no choice. It wasn’t until 5.30 p.m. that I could face going outside to admire Martin’s work,

some of which was further clearance of the Rose Garden paths. It was no cooler in the evening.

In the meantime I began reading “The Nibelungenlied”, Part One of Book Two of Legends of the Ring.

This evening we dined on pork chops in mustard sauce scattered with almonds; pigs in blankets frozen since Christmas; boiled new potatoes; firm carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; and meaty gravy, with which I finished the Tempranillo.

60 comments

  1. I converted to Celsius. It is all a matter of what one is used to: we would regard 31’C as a pleasantly warm day. I do not blame you for wishing to remain indoors as this must be unusually warm for you. Martin has made a big difference to your paths.

  2. You are a credit to your commonsense and Martin is a credit to perseverance. Dinner sounds delightful, well deserved ono your part in keeping Martin hydrated.

  3. I used to be OK with the heat and humidity, but not anymore. This summer our a/c has been on most of the time. It will be well into the 90s and humid tomorrow. Take it easy. Martin does great work.

  4. No doubt as we age, heat and humidity bother us more. Also, it’s important to remember that humidity raises the heat index, which means your 88 felt as though it were the 90s. I’m guessing that this weather is not typical for your area, at least back in the day.

  5. We are experience a hot and muggy heat over here in Montreal. It is most unpleasant. Kudos to Martin for working through it and doing a beautiful job.

  6. Yay Martin! He does fantastic work, Derrick. It’s nice that you used the fahrenheit scale, one that I recognise as normal. Our low temperatures overnight have been 88 degrees fahrenheit!

  7. We have another heat dome building over us and yesterday we hit 100 degrees. It isn’t that bad today, buy still pretty hot at 94 right now. Colorado has had three major fires break out in the foothills of the front range of the Rocky Mountains since Monday and it is now going to be smoky heat. I feel that I can’t complain with so many people evacuated from their homes and the poor firefighters fighting in this heat. The latest problem they are dealing with: one of the sites has a lot of rattlesnakes!

    1. Here in Australia we are accustomed as you are in Colorado with heat and fire. It has rained a lot this year so when summer comes and it will be our turn and we will become worried about fire. 100 is not at all comfortable. Best wishes with the fires.

  8. Everything is looking very neat and tidy.

    I liked your running anecdote. If only everyone listened to sound advice. I might try it one day.

  9. It’s going to be in the 90s here this week. A friend was just commenting that she has to rest in between tasks. I could relate. But slow and steady gets the necessities done. Thank goodness for Martin. The pathways look great!

  10. 88 degrees is very hot, especially with humidity. That was sage advice you gave the 18 year old, Derrick. I read your old post about veering off the course to kiss your grandmother. That was very sweet of you!

    The hottest I have seen it get her on the farm is 112 degrees a number of years ago now. It was in the upper 80s in the shade here today. During summer, Rick and I tend to work outside mornings and evenings, and stay in during the heat of the day.

  11. YAY for Martin! His work is fabulous! I hope he drinks a lot of water AND rests in the shade when he needs, too!
    I remember as kids, teenagers, and young adults we could spend all day active in the hot summer sun and not be the worst for wear. We enjoyed it.
    But, eek…no longer! Us well-seasoned folk do our outdoor activities in the early morn, late evening, and at night.
    Stay safe and cool, Derrick and Jackie!!
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
    PS…Wasn’t it too hot for piggies to be bundled in blankets? Ha! (wink and laugh)

  12. Martin has done an excellent job on the paths.
    Good grief, 33°C is very hot; I’m not surprised you needed to stay indoors. We spent the day in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where I believe the temperature was around 25°C, but as some of it was in the shade of woodland, it was very comfortable.

  13. PS. Lovely to read another post from yesteryear. How lovely that you had a short detour to kiss your grandmother. 🙂

  14. That is hot for you. If Martin runs out of things to do at your place, he’d be welcome to come work with me — I can provide an equally nice, toasty environment for him!

  15. Y’all’s gardens are so lovely. Unending cheers for Martin. Yes, we have been advised – and I have inadvertently tested it and found it true – that folks of ‘advanced age’ (whatever that may mean… remember ‘advanced placement’ courses in school?) are highly susceptible, i.e., ‘at risk,’ in hot weather. It does wash one out, for sure.

    I do envy your gardens, Derrick (and Jackie!). We have been working on ours, and they have improved, but a long way to go yet.

  16. You’re temperatures are matching ours today, Derrick. I’m glad you could get away to shops in an air-conditioned car. Martin did a brilliant job clearly the paths and tidying the garden.

  17. We had 95 degrees this morning, walking to the services, and probably higher in the afternoon coming back, plus extremely high humidity. It was not pleasant, but we survived.
    Martin did a great job.

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