The
recent heat wave in the UK has resulted in the usual over the top reaction.
Here
in Spain we are used to 30-34c temperatures from June to October. In July and August it can rise to 40c, but
fortunately not too often.
Although
we are used to the higher temperatures we have found that you do have to adopt
to them. When we first moved to Spain
from the UK we tried to carry on as usual, but found that this would not
work. We soon followed the example of
our Spanish neighbours. Keep out of the
sun. Try to finish any heavy work
before 0900. Keep windows closed and
blinds down during the hot parts of the day.
All common sense really.
During
the cooler months we do a lot of hill walking.
We run two walking groups for the local U3A, and that keeps us busy each
Monday and Thursday. I also do a blog
of each walk, and that takes up a large part of two more days. We have a wargame set up all the time,
and usually manage an hour or so two or three times a week. I record the campaign on a blog, which takes
up another half day each week.
From
the end of May all of this comes to an end.
We have had to develop a completely different routine for the summer
months. It is important to have a
routine which involves both mental and physical activity. The former is easy, the latter more
difficult.
Each
morning we rise at 0630 and go for an hours walk. We then have an hour working on the garden
or anything else that requires working outside. That, together with an hour or so in the
swimming pool, is the full extent of our physical routine.
The
campaign and wargaming becomes a much larger part of our daily routine. The wargames room is extended into the hill,
and is consequently the coolest part of the house. We usually spend an hour each afternoon
wargaming.
In
the walking months I often find it hard to post once a week on this blog and
the campaign diary blog. But during the
summer I find that I have a backlog of posts, even posting twice a week.
You
may have noticed that there are more posts than usual over the past few
weeks. It won’t last for long. We will soon be able to get our walking
boots on and the wargaming will revert to two or three a week.
Sounds like a very reasonable warm weather schedule, similar to my own here in Michigan, USA during the summer months. Although it usually does not get as warm as in Spain during the same season. Lovely wargames room by the way. Your table is attractive and very practical.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Rather grey and Autumnal in the N. of England this weekend I'm afraid , so no gardening in the rain but lots of figure painting !.
ReplyDeleteHi Stokes
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to overreact to extreme (for them) weather in the UK. If the temperature goes above 30c the roads melt, the railway lines expand and the trains stop running and the radio and TV reminds everyone to drink more water and keep out of the sun! In the winter motorists seem incapable of not driving into flooded dips in the road, the trains stop running because there are leaves on the rail and everyone is warned to stay at home. Seems to happen every year. Here in Spain they are much more relaxed about it. In the winter everyone wraps up, in the house as well. In the summer they avoid the hottest parts of the day. It’s not rocket science, but it seems too difficult for “the authorities” in the UK.
Thanks for the comment about the wargames table. I did a lot of soul searching when deciding what sort of table to have. In the end I settled for being practical. I built it thirteen years ago, including the scenic tiles, and it is still going strong. But more important it allows me to transfer battles from the campaign without having to try to make the table look like the map.
regards
Paul
Hi TGSS
ReplyDeleteMy son lives in Rothbury in Northumberland and we are well used to “grey and dismal” when we visit. We were there in June and it was beautiful, and sunny most days. Most unusual, but made us appreciate it all the more. However the past week it has been hit by heavy rain and extensive flooding. However they are a hardy race up there and everyone just “mucks in” to help each other out.
A friend has just returned from the midlands, and they had to light a fire last week. Fires in August indeed.
Not complaining about our wall to wall sunshine, just remarking that you have to adjust to it.
best regards
Paul
Great post title Paul :) Sharon and I were discussing the same subject last week, how the Uk goes into panic mode and everything grinds to a halt when the temperatures hit 32 degrees! It sure has been hot here though this last couple of weeks and I must admit to feeling quite uncomfortable last week when 42 was forecast. I like to paint figures every day when I can and it was difficult keeping the paints open on the palette, they were skinning over so quickly, and that's with my trusty old 'wet' palette - a plastic plate filled with kitchen roll which is kept soaked with water, with grease proof paper cut to size laid over it and lightly dampened. Back in the Uk I used to be able to return to the palette next morning and the paint would still be usable, here in Spain I can just about keep the paint usable for a couple of hours. I think painting soldiers is my only addiction!
ReplyDeleteYour table of course is excellent, always admired that set up you have and the organisation of your armies.
All the best for now, regards to Jan,
Lee.
Hi Lee
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments
It has been particularly hot this past week, but we are almost into September, and it is usually considerably cooler then. I believe temperature records were broken last week, just as in the UK. But you would never know it as the locals carry on as usual.
I don’t envy you trying to paint in this weather. I have not painted a figure for more than 12 years, in fact since we left the UK. One of our summer projects is to make 28mm scenery. This year we have made some walls, hedges and bridges. We have a similar problem with the white glue drying too quickly.
We considered different options when we designed the wargames table. We used wooden scenic boards for many years, but we did consider a table mat for a change. However we finally opted for practical over pretty. Glad we did, because it has more than proved its value. We are still using the same scenic boards. They are easy to repair with a little green paint as necessary.
best regards
Paul