Heatwave

We are in the middle of a heat wave here, and at the time of writing this in Aldinga Beach, it is 44 degrees outside.  But luckily, we now have an airconditioner.  Not a flash wall mounted one, but a large beast that sits on the floor with a large ugly hose that protrudes through an open window.   But who cares, we are cool.

 But, it does raise a question.   Are we all getting softer?  Not able to cope with the heat anymore?    I lived in Australia for 26 years, in houses that were not air conditioned, driving cars that were not air conditioned and experiencing heat waves such as we have now.   The days, of closing the house up during the day, opening it up to coolish breezes at night, driving with the car windows open, placing wet towels around baby's cots, and with fans blowing on them, were all par for the course.    In schools we moved all the children into the one airconditioned room, usually the library, and read stories to them all afternoon.   One gritted one's teeth, and basically sat through each heat wave.

 Global warming?   True or not true for Adelaide?  Who knows.  But you only have to look around at the changes that have taken place during the last twenty years and you can see why the temperatures are higher here.    The spread of the city, north and south, with its accompanying shopping centres, does not help the situation.     There is tarmac, tarmac and more tarmac, everywhere. And of  course, people no longer have cooling green lawns surrounding their houses, unless one is horribly rich and can afford the water bills.   Now it is paving or bark chips, or dried grass.  Water is a precious commody here, and thank goodness most people respect this.  But it does affect the overall temperature, I think.

Air conditioners? Most people have air conditioned houses, either ducted or wall mounted reverse cycle coolers.   People expect their shops, offices, schools and  houses to have cooling systems.  Just the same as we expect our houses to be heated in the United Kingdom.  However, without the accompanying stress on insulation and double glazing.    How much of the cold air is escaping into the wild blue yonder?  A real energy problem.

On a more positive note, it was a balmy 36 degrees down on Aldinga Beach this morning.   A north westerly breeze was blowing.   No asphalt around, just sand and water.    A few cars were lined up on the sand, a few umbrellas and shelters were out, and a few people swimming in the water    B lue skies and blue water, quite cold and refreshing.     Scott walking into the water, ready to make a plunge into the ripples.

Another hot one tomorrow, and a predicted cool change.  Looking forward to it.   Even with an airconditioner.