Hot start to 2016

I don't know about everyone else but I have spent this summer melting, more so than other summers.  I remember that 2014 was a difficult year with three heatwaves through December and January.  I also remember one of our fridges struggling to cope as much as me.  We had it re-gassed that February but it was the beginning of the end for the poor thing.  The joys (or not) of food service.  The equipment, maintenance and risk of breakdown is very stressful and expensive.

Anyway, hot as it was that summer, this one has been in some ways, harder for me.  I don't cope well with heat and while we have not had as many days above forty degrees, we have had week long seemingly endless stretches between 35 and 39.  I cope with temperatures up to 35 and then I start to hurt.  I suffer headaches when I over heat and 35 degrees seems to be my cut off point.  It has been nice this last week to have had lower temperatures but I note the forecast this weekend is rising and will hit 41 by Tuesday.  Not looking forward to it.

One silver lining has been that we managed a rare holiday in January.  It was our first real holiday in four years and we used it most importantly to catch up with family in NZ.  It was so good to see them, I have missed my family so much and have had little opportunity since moving to Lockhart to see them.  We are fortunate that Mum and Dad have managed to visit us a couple of times but this January was the first time I seen my great niece and nephew as they were born since we came to Lockhart.  Such a shame that we had not had the chance to meet before now, my nephew is so grown up, I missed his early life.  All my family, nieces and nephew have grown up such a lot since we last saw them.  They are fast approaching adulthood.

We spent a lovely two weeks with them as well as enjoying the beautiful green New Zealand countryside.  I was quite homesick and pleased that while we were away, we missed the hottest day, a scorching 46!  But all holidays are too short and we are back to familiar surroundings.  Let's hope that the season starts to cool soon.  I'm more of a winter person than a summer one but I do like autumn and seeing the colour changes.  Looking forward to it.