But, just saying. Infections flare into something serious really fast.

Infections happen very fast in the heat. If you get a cut or a blister, you need to clean it, disinfect it and cover it STRAIGHT AWAY.

I realise that my northern European neighbours only have a few days left of this heat, but please take it seriously.

It's actually quite staggering how many French Colonists died of shaving cuts in Indochina.

In the south of Spain people are very used to these temperatures at night. And we all do the same thing - close the windows and blinds before the morning heats up.

That is practice borne of lived experience. But hey, be my guest to open your windows while the day begins to bake.

@vriesk @svenscholz

Also as a disabled/chronic life debilitating person (autistic definitely qualifies even if the others are maybe seen as less disabled, but they figure),, I get rather concerned when abled? people use us in arguments like this as a 'gotcha' when most of the time we are invisible.

We are also not a monolith, if you've met one person with X, you've met one person with X, we are all different.

Not sure if this is the case here, but please don't unless you are disabled.

But usually those with those chronic conditions can't pay that kind of electricity bill.

I pay £104 per month for my electricity and gas, and that's without any A/C. One person, tiny flat. That's not unusual...

More power to those who can afford...but most here cannot - disabled or otherwise.

I have chronic conditions too - asthma and eczema that get triggered by sweat and heat. I've been hiding indoors for the last 2 days. Aint it fun?

Also 'cool of the night' LOL.

It's a 'cool' 24C tonight. Positively arctic!

It really does depend where you are and what building you are in. Basement Victorian flat - we'll find out tonight but the difference has been 26-27C vs high 28C. A little better but not much.

The heat is not leaving the property. And before you say 'that's cos you left the windows open' - I used to religiously use the dehumidifier so ALWAYS kept the windows closed. I have abandoned that in this heatwave.

The warmth still crept in, regardless after a few days. It just delays it.

Personally, I think it's because it makes you sweat. But it could be many other things.

It keeps the cool of the night in.

@vriesk @svenscholz

Thanks for the reminder about hot (spicy) food - I had forgotten about it and am now stocked up with chilli flakes, fish sauce and limes.

My sister in law used to cook the most delicious Thai food in long ago, hot German summers.

> eat and drink things that trigger sweating

Is that why chili is so enjoyable in the heat?

annoyingly I had to getup at 7:30am to meet the plumber - who was then over 30 mins late, so hot night + regularly awakened by thunder and flashes...I only got a few hours sleep.

Yup, it's currently 62% humidity and 28C INSIDE atm, and 35C and 47% outside.

Was hoping that the humidity levels might stabilise if I opened the windows but kept the curtains closed...not really.

I have tried the windows closed and humidifier on in the past, that just means the place gets super hot AND stifling...so it's off atm. Needs to be, the import/agile energy prices are doing this atm:

I really don't think those in the US pay 0.27p per kWh, which is the standard fixed rate for my green supplier, let alone 84p....gas is extra too, 5p per unit and service charge on top of that. I pay £104 pm, that's normal.

Aircon would CRIPPLE me financially, it's bad enough with the dehumidifier! Most don't need that, but I live in a damp basement flat that wasn't really occupied much for years, so it basically sweats water and mould.

Moreover, unsuitable buildings and lack of know how make it even worse.

[Managed to cycle into work, to find my naturally cool office in the basement! ]