Well it's 17 degrees here and cloudy . Perfect for this Scotsman ( unless I'm on holiday )

Not so good if there's a threat of fire Richard . I hope that doesn't happen .

It's too hot here. Bring on winter!

We had over 50mm of rain on Sunday night and it was 28^o C this afternoon. I went out to inspect a woodland plantation that I had planted in March this year and you could almost hear the trees slurping it up!



With regard to fighting forest fires with planes, I read an interesting article on the Priceonomics website just the other day about the effectiveness (or otherwise) of this method.
 Does Using Airplanes to Put out Forest Fires Actually Work? 

It's bizarre.  Shade air temperature on the patio is 35 degrees.  That has no wind protection and there is a light breeze blowing.  It's 30 degrees in the kitchen, which feels like walking into a cool cellar by comparison with outside

But - its not uncomfortable at 35 degrees.  And that must be because humidity is down at 52% according to my weather station.  We have large ceiling fans in each of the bedrooms - one of which I am writing this from as my temporary office and good insulation helps

But my new office, now fit to occupy once I take delivery of a sack barrow to help me move out of the bedroom, which is a wooden chalet stuck out in the sun, with partial (1/3) shade from a tree, is not that uncomfortable "native".  There is air conditioning fitted - but it hasn't been on today and just opening 3 windows has freshened it enough for me to be comfortable working there (it has an insulated roof)

And yet I can remember days in England when the official temperature was up to 10 degrees less than this, and the fans were on full tilt and I was dripping sweat.

It's OK hot - if its not too humid.  Up to a point!  We have pretty much decided its not worth installing air conditioning for the main bedroom if we continue to be comfortable with just the fan (there has been one night so far since May when we were too hot) and I am wondering whether the air con for the office was really essential (too late now)

40C exceeds my maximum operating temperature. I go into safety 'die' mode.

Masochist!

Funny you say that.  We had a friend stay a week or so ago - and he's a ginger - and he said it didnt matter how hot it was all the time you were moving because of the windchilll.  It was when he stopped to fix a puncture on a VTT ride that he melted in the heat.  And he drank a lot of liquid.  He was down here for the 73rd Quillan Criterium - the oldest bike race in France. A fantastic event because it is a combination of very serious French sport (even more serious than petanque) and a very relaxed carnival atmosphere - you could walk across the track during the race, and there was a lot of beer involved.  And it was way over 30 degrees for the Criterium again.

criteriumlink

You need some fresh mountain air Mike 

In all seriousness, that is the benefit of the mountains.  It was 36 degrees shade temperature on the patio yesterday, and by 11 o'clock it was less than 16 degrees in our bedroom.  A large ceiling fan helps too.  We have suffered sweaty sleepless nights on holidays in France, and planned to get air conditioning (proper - we were left a noisy portable unit).  But there has only been one night so far when we were not comfortable with the fan (and one that was a bit 50 50)