Hot

Yes, I know if you live in Perth or Scottsdale my attitude toward the heat is only going to be amusing. But, according to the official weather reports, it is 39*C here in Heidelberg which is way hotter than anyone here wants to know about or experience. Those of you in the US – just remember that air conditioning doesn’t exist. Not in normal buildings. Traditionally, you just open the windows and turn on a fan if it gets really hot. Really hot being defined somewhere around 32-33*C, not the current over 100*F for those who are still on the beloved but outdated English measurement system.

Our terrace faces south, the better to capture light. Which means it also gets plenty of heat in the summer even with the awnings fully extended. Opening the door to the terrace is out of the question as it just seems to invite the furnace into the dining room. Our bedroom faces west. I could pull the rolladen and keep the room cooler, but then I would be bumping around like a blind bat since the light fixtures seem to eat bulbs on a regular basis. The new energy saving bulbs certainly do save energy as they don’t seem to put out much light at all.

So here I sit in the dining attempting to clear out drives without a breath of moving air. Regular breaks are needed. The laundry room is quite a bit cooler – even after running a load of clothes. The back hall isn’t bad either. For that matter, the kitchen is a good source of snacks and cool. Who says that only teenagers stand in front of the fridge trying to make up their minds?

It was about an hour ago when my stomach said something about nice cold pasta salad or perhaps potato salad. I have pasta, right? And there are four baking potatoes looking much sadder for their sojourn in our house. Maybe they were hoping to be forgotten in their dank corner. Of course, it might be nice to have something other than potatoes….. I tossed in some chopped up onion and gerkins; then was faced by the challenge of the fridge. No mayo, no mustard and 1/2 gallon of vinegar.

It was at this point that I went for the pasta. Spicy Penne to which one could always add some garlic. Nothing is ever wrong with adding garlic. But see remark above about anything to use as a dressing. I don’t think the dusty can of german tomato/herb sauce I found in the bottom of the cupboard was past expiration and it seemed like just the thing to go with the mildly pink tinged pasta. Which was a lot spicier than one would think.

The sun is still up (1930) and heat is radiating off the terrace in waves. I think this calls for chocolate ice cream with strawberries…..

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8 Responses to Hot

  1. Kathy says:

    You are eating like me. Especially the chocolate with strawberries part.

  2. Holly says:

    @Kathy

    but not the pasta salad or potato salad? We are here for another 10 days and I am desperately trying to empty out cupboards and the fridge. Makes for some interesting choices.

    I have no idea why I have three lifetime supplies of carbs on hand

  3. Bruce says:

    In about 2002 or 2003 temps hit 40 in Mannheim and 41 in Karlsruhe. I asked a older friend who grew up in Viernheim about the heat. He said that there are 2 weeks of 38-40 every year. Most people in the Rhein- Nekar region simply refuse to admit it.

  4. Holly says:

    Was in Bosnia in 1998 and Kuwait summer of 2003 – but otherwise I have been here just about every summer. Worst I remember was 37*C. Maybe it was cooler up on my hill?

  5. Alison says:

    Sounds like here, where an electrician told me 28 years ago when I asked about AC, Aw, lady, live here a year or two and see if you still think you need it—it’s only hot a few days a year.

    Which is SO not true now. We have AC now and it runs most days of the summer. Multiple heat waves over 100F per summer are a given now.

  6. Holly says:

    But there is no climate change. Just ask certain people….. The same ones who think being born in Calgary means you are native born US, but being born in Hawaii doesn’t count….

    (off soap box)

  7. Barbara says:

    Well, you could blow a hair dryer on yourself and pretend you were in Iraq…it sounds miserable!

  8. BP Bergman says:

    Your e-mail has persuaded me that summer really is here – it is just unevenly distributed (to misquote William Gibson in The Economist). Here in Scotland we seem to have gone straight from spring to autumn with nothing in between. It is officially the worst summer in 22 years, and the other day (August 4th) the weather forecast was for sleet. Just don’t mention global warming here . . .

    The Edinburgh Festival has just started so the streets here are full of aliens, mermaids and people wearing other crazy costumes. I went to the Tattoo on Thursday night, which was excellent. Then I went to a couple of shows yesterday – both good, although one does have to be selective as there is a lot of garbage masquerading as comedy too. But it is a great time to be in Edinburgh, even if it gets very crowded on the streets with all the visitors.

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