Today has been hotter than yesterday by a degree or two. In fact it is the hottest day of the year. 34C in Cambridge. But it is forecast to be dry, but cooler over the coming days.
I had my usual fractured sleep awaking for a while and then falling asleep again. But I needed to be up early to get H out for a walk before I took a swim.
And that is what happened. I took H up to Cholsey Meadows where there was no one much about. It was a shorter walk than usual but already quite warm.
I arrived at the pool around 08.00 as various acquaintances were leaving. And, as usual, I started off on length one, thinking that this would be boring. And it was. But the lengths soon got ticked off and my 1000 metres was done.
I was at home for a short while before departing to meet Brenda at the Fox Inn in Hermitage- a new venu. It was very pleasant and the landlord was charming – even to the extent of making up a special salad for us. We both behaved ourselves and forwent any dessert. We chose to sit inside due to the extreme heat outside, even in the shade.
The landlord really looked after us, bringing us extra chilled water in the heat.
It would make a good venu for our Carers get togethers. Better than boring garden centres which seem to be usual choices.
And we had a very good chinwag before returning to our homes, me to a very pleased doggy.
The afternoon has been hot and sticky and I hid indoors. Today has been the hottest day of the year. In Cambridge it was over 34C. I might have mentioned that before.
My beans had fallen over again – or buckled in the heat.
There have been serious wild fires in Greece – Marathon is one place on fire. It must be worrying for family out there. People are being evacuated to Nea Makri. For a few years, since the deadly fires of 2018, there was nothing left to burn out there. Those earlier fires had stripped all vegetation and tree cover and anything else flammable away. Most trees had been removed anyway and I remember seeing huge piles of tree trunks waiting removal. But things grow quickly out there and in 2022 the family garden was quite lush once more. So, I expect people are fearful.
I’ve marked Rafina area in red.
Marathon is the area north of Rafina where the fire is. It is their local authority.
The evening passed . I watched the end of Honour which documents a true story of a detective’s perseverance and determination to track down a missing woman , who was in fact, murdered by her father and others because she would not comply with their expectations. They were Iraqi Kurds. I remember it on the News but was not aware of the back story.
Thought for the Day
Banaz Mahmoud was born in Iraqi Kurdistanand moved to England with her family when she was 10 years old. At the age of 17, her parents had arranged a marriage between her and a man 10 years older than her. Within months the marriage turned violent and Banaz requested a divorce. In the coming months, Banaz fell in love with someone of her own choosing, something which was found to be shameful by her family. Banaz was kept in confinement by her family, beaten, and forbidden to see her lover. She escaped and sought help from authorities, to no avail. She wrote a letter to police, detailing her situation and stating that her father should be investigated if anything were to happen to her. In January 2006, Banaz was killed by family members, in a plot which was initiated by her father. In total, Banaz went to the police 5 times before her death, but did not get the help she needed. Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode of the Metropolitan Police led the investigation to recover the body of Banaz and arrest her killers, securing the first ever extradition from Iraq to Britain.
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