Too hot to handle

Hello, lovelies .

          British summer is here. London is sweltering in such an ungodly heat, as clammy individuals try to in maintain some dignity as they melt in temperatures upwards of 35 degrees. Some love the sunshine, shedding their clothes and embracing the heat. Whilst the rest of us shut the windows, draw the curtains, and sit in front of fans as we wait for it all to be over. London wasn’t made for heat. It was built for much colder weather. Our houses are built very close together, and far too few buildings have air con. So, what can we do? How will we survive this? Or will I end up as a melted, sweaty lump by the end of September? Is the heat down to global warming? Will be ever be able to go back to the summer of a decade ago, when, at its hight, the summer would last a few days at most before returning to the usual chill and cloudy skies? Is this our future? To relive the summer of 1976 year after year? And how can we make the best of a very hot and sticky situation? 

         I have always loved living in London. I love the different cultures. The different people. The wonderful variety of foods. All of it. But when it comes to the weather I am very, very British. I like a cool drizzle. I think that I’m a bit like Goldilocks. Not too hot, not too cold, but somewhere in the middle. As hot weather is not conducive to my middle aged, rather rotund figure. Some can carry off the sun kissed summer look, but not me. I can start the day off as presentable, but by mid-morning I am red faced, covered in sweat and praying for some shade and an iced coffee. Throw in some nasty bouts of chemo, and the ‘lovely’ hot flushes that come with that, and I find that I can hardly move. No. For me, the summer sun is not my friend. So, what can I do about it?

        Since 1970, the Earth’s temperature has raced upwards faster than in any comparable period, and the oceans have heated up at a rate not seen in at least 11,000 years. Up until now human civilization has operated within a narrow, stable band of temperature. But through the burning of fossil fuels the global thermometer has risen so high, that the last time it reached such levels was at least 125,000 years ago, while the atmosphere has more heat-trapping carbon dioxide in it than any time in the past two million years, perhaps more. Do our European friends have it right? Should we all shut down at noon, and take a long cool nap? If only. I don’t think that my work would look kindly on me sleeping my way through the hottest part of the day. So, what can we do? Well. We could do the most British of things and have a cup of tea. A nice cup of hot tea or coffee has the magical ability to actually cool us down. 

         But the problem isn’t just confined to the summer months. Global warming is working against us all year round. But we can make a difference. Reduce and reuse as much as possible. Factories emit carbon dioxide when making new products. So instead of buying new stuff, fix your appliances and clothes. Good thing holey jeans are back in style! Visit your local charity shop, who knows what beautiful things that you’ll find there. And if something in your home no longer serves you, donate it. Give away on Freecycle or leave it our on the side of the road with a little note saying ‘free’. Its amazing how many fun little finds you can pick up on the curb side. 

        Try to eat mostly in season and locally grown fruits and vegetables. This cuts down on the energy used to grow and transport food, which reduces the release of heat trapping gases. Or try growing your own. You really don’t need a huge allotment to grow food. A window sill will do it. But be prepared to quickly become obsessed with growing your own free food. My house is now covered in plants of all kinds. So much so, that my daughter told me that I am not allowed to buy any more plants. Really. Kids today?!? But joking aside. Big chain corporations use so much energy, pumping out massive amounts of carbon dioxide to bring us perfectly formed, mass produced all year-round fruit and veg. How can that be good for us, let alone the planet? Because of our reliance on the supermarkets, we consume far too much, way more than we actually need, which is another trick brought to us from the mega chains and powers that be. I know this, because I was once a full paid-up member of the consumer market. If the shops were flogging it, then I would buy it. But not anymore. I can not even begin to tell you how much better a homegrown tomato tastes verses the shop bought. And what tastes even better is that it is free. Totally free. A little planning, a little watering, and a window sill to sit on, and you can have free food all year round. 

          Now for the bad bit. Meat. Easy conversation for me being a vegetarian. Livestock such as cows account for some of Earth’s heat-trapping gas emissions. Who knew that a cow’s farts could be killing us. Or should I say, heating us up before killing us. Cutting back on our meat consumption and eating more plants cuts down on the need for so much livestock. Which will drastically cut all the deforestation that the farmers need to graze their cattle. And if meat is your thing, what about checking out the yellow sticker section? When I buy meat for my children, why demand the new to shelf, when the yellow stickers help with the shops food waste and defiantly helps with my money waste. Use it right away. Freeze it. Water can it. There are so many ways in which to preserve food, so that a little thought can take us a long, long way into the future .

       These are some of the little steps we can take to bring attention to the major issue of global warming. We can also email our government representatives, asking them to do something about climate change.

           Then there are also the "Vampire" appliances, that suck energy even when turned off. Kill these monsters by unplugging them when they’re not needed or in use. 

        Climate change is an ever-growing problem, that the younger generation are beginning to learn about and take appropriate action. But what about our elder, and more vulnerable population. We were encouraged to check in on them in the winter, but not so much in the summer heat. A simple check in could save someone’s life. Learn the facts and talk to your friends and family. If everyone gets the science, we can work together to find solutions. 

      This summer will not last forever. But climate change will, unless we all do our bit to raise awareness and demand our governments do better. A few simple steps can and will change our boiling future. So, lets raise a glass of ice-cold water, and start planning for our future.