Some Like It Hot

They always say be careful what you wish for. When I returned to the UK after 3 years in scorching, drought ridden California I wished to feel the wind in my hair and cooling British raindrops on my face. It subsequently blew a gale and rained solid for the next two weeks.

Now of course,  I am sweltering in the Netherlands. I’m a woman of a certain age and controlling my body temperature is hard at the best of times. Yes I wanted sunshine, but I certainly didn’t want my own personal steam-room. We were warned humidity could get  high in a Dutch summer. Yeh right, I thought, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Last week the temperature soared, and Haarlem became almost tropical.  Apart from the  humidity, it’s  like being back in California – crossing the road to walk on the shady side of the street, ensuring chores are completed first thing in the morning before the temperature hits 30 degrees, and willing those few high whispy clouds to block the afternoon sun – just for a few seconds of light relief.

Poor Ed has been stretching out on the tiled floor, desperately trying to cool down, while the Dutch have been embracing the heat the only way they know how – stripping off and drinking beer. All week long pleasure boats have been cruising past my house with dozens of near naked bodies partying on board.  The canals become a public lazy river while the local parks are full of families picnicking and BBQ-ing. Kids have been jumping into the water to cool down and to be honest it’s very tempting to join them – especially as the local swimming pool has now closed down for the next six weeks so that staff can take their holidays (??)

Yes, that’s another thing. The Dutch are all now on holiday.  The schools finished on Friday and our street is deserted. Mr T complains that nothing will get done at work and his American colleagues are in shock at the very thought that the Dutch have enough annual leave to take three  whole weeks off in one go.   But that’s what the Dutch do. They play hookey when the sun comes out and when the school holidays start, they hitch up their caravans and head south. 

The hottest day so far coincided with the start of the Tour De France in Utrecht. We had to go. ‘Le Tour’ is one big circus and Utrecht was buzzing.  We dashed from the shade of one tree to another trying to find a convenient spot to view the time trials. It was positively exhausting.  Mr T bought the T-shirt, I bought a hat. 

How I envied the Dutch couple who climbed out of their first floor window to watch and sat under the shade of an umbrella with their feet in two buckets of cold water.

Positively inspired on Sunday morning Mr T slipped into his yellow jersey and headed out on his road bike. I stayed in bed, willing the temperature to drop, and now of course it has.

And although it has absolutely nothing to do with this post, here's a picture of a thatched houseboat. Only in the Netherlands!