Not that this led to any great outpouring of grief on the part of the colonised.

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

Something occurred to me. Two decades in the tropics have caused me to assume knowledge that I guess some people just don't get taught.

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.

@radioclash It has been 24C at night for me for approx. the last 30 days. That IS cool for me.

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

@holsta Honestly, I do not know the science of it. But many millions of people in SE Asia and the Indian Subcontinent who eat spicy food in the heat can't be insane.

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

@radioclash Opening a window in the middle of day at 35+C is mad. Quite the opposite. Close your windows when you wake up, and draw your blinds.

It keeps the cool of the night in.

@vriesk @svenscholz

@energisch_ Marina, meet @vriesk

I know you're going to enjoy each other's company.

@SonjaS I have no scientific data to back this up. But I don't think millions of people in SEA and the Indian Subcontinent can all be entirely wrong.

Chilis didn't originate in Asia. They came from the Americas, but it's uncanny how so many places with a hot climate incorporated them into their local cuisine and so passionately!

@radioclash It does indeed. And even in Cordoba, in the height of summer, the Mesquita is probably one of the coolest spots in the city without any artificial cooling at all. @sidereal @vriesk @svenscholz

@NatureMC This - so much. Also, as it applies to working conditions. People - usually on far lower incomes - who work outside are at much greater risk. And often have employers who just don't give a shit what happens to them. @ApostateEnglishman

@cian I think they work very well up to a certain point, but over that, you're just emptying the reservoir ever 10 minutes.

Happily, I now live in the south of Spain, where the temp gets higher, but it is relatively dry, and until it hits 40 C, I find it pretty comfortable. But over 40, it's just nasty anywhere.

@radioclash The very best advice I got when I first moved to HCMC was to learn to sleep without aircon. With just a fan. Because it really helps the body to acclimatise faster. Luckily, I didn't have aircon, so I had no choice. But I must admit, my body adjusted pretty quickly.

But I think for what people are going through in Europe right now, it's a serious shock, and it is not like the change is permanent.

@GraziosiSergio @noodlemaz

@mamapanda Please, let us not be mean to each other. @vriesk means well and his post wasn't malicious.

Please let it be.

@Pomegranatepirate Very cool! Some of the old buildings in HCMC with clay tile roofs have a drip system that leaks little streams of water onto the hip of the roof. The evaporation works to pull the denser, cooler air in through the windows and doors on the bottom floor and convection pulls it up into the second floor. I don't know if it works, but it was very popular with the French. @MyWoolyMastadon @gbargoud @fietsria @vriesk @svenscholz

@Virginicus @Bene

@david_chisnall ultimately any shade is better than none but I’m glad you have an extra good one!

@sidereal It also saves quite a bit of electricity, because you can put the AC on at a higher temp, since you're distributing the cooling more efficiently. @vriesk @svenscholz

@ApostateEnglishman Exactly this.

I remember getting more than a few expat employees through their first month or so. It's really hard on the body, but also, mentally hard.

I was on a zoom reading meeting and my friend in Singapore also reminded me - rightly so - to pass on that high levels of heat are not just physically draining. They can be psychologically draining too.

So, if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, please know that you can indeed breathe and you aren't dying - that feeling of panic will pass if you just sit quietly, sip some water, and breathe evenly.

@ApostateEnglishman
I'm just so sorry to see people having to go through this. Because I know how utterly unprepared most Northern Europeans are, and the infrastructure isn't built for it either.

I do worry - especially for older people and children. They are very vulnerable.

@vriesk @radioclash @svenscholz

What I find even scarier is that most governments and most of the financial world still will not truly acknowledge climate change enough to stop burning fossil fuel. Even when it would be absolutely feasible to do it.

That IS scarier.