On keeping my cool

How strange, dear peoples, to find myself still hot and bothered a month later. I am very unsettled.  Waking up to blue skies for more than a week together means I should be on holiday. Contemplating an azure sea.  Enjoying drinks with little umbrellas in them. And eating more than is good for me. Instead I find myself home. And resolutely saving water.

This is not a new thing. Every summer, I deploy buckets strategically around the house to collect “waste” water. My aim is to go the whole season without turning on the tap specifically to water my plants. The Boyfriend is a little less enamoured with my conservation efforts, having stubbed his toe painfully on lurking water receptacles more than once. Much to his relief, my elaborate water harvesting plans for the perfect house don’t involve buckets. If we achieve even half of them, I shall be very well pleased. And energy saving plans too. You will no doubt be amazed to hear that the fans are still firmly in the garage. I am amazed myself. There were a few moments though, when I almost gave in and got them out. Unlike the Boyfriend, I don’t do well in the heat. My coping mechanisms involve lying listlessly on the sofa. Sighing. And drinking cooling drinks. With little bubbles in them. And plenty of ice.

I am very relieved that the heat has finally broken. We’ve even had a shower of rain. I rushed downstairs from my office to put out one of the lurking buckets to catch a few drops. A step too far? The Boyfriend certainly thinks so. He tells me that it is possible to be too extreme, as he sits with melting ice soothing yet another stubbed toe. I hesitate to mention that I have actually wondered how long we could go between showers… and wisely do not start on the profligacy of water companies.

I have taken note of these 10 principles on designing cool spaces for hot weather. While envying the folks in Canberra their cheap energy bills. I was delighted to read of the end of free returns as my suspicion that they contribute to needless waste is confirmed. And that someone is tackling the environmental issues around batteries for electric vehicles. This article on self and society gave me pause for thought. 

Here it is, my favourite project/restoration of the moment Tigín Tiny Homes by Common Knowledge,  a social enterprise project aimed at tackling Ireland’s housing crisis. I have fallen for Erik Johansson’s surreal photography. And added Sambonet’s colourful cookware  and Aarke’s stylish water purifier to my wish list.

This month I’ve been enjoying Wilding by Isabella Tree and The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, both beautifully written, informative and inspirational. And definitely humbling.

I leave you with this… the incomparable Yo-Yo Ma performing a work for cello, accompanied by birdsong.

A bientôt