Sunshine ?

[JennieAtkinson]

Whilst everyone south of us seemed to be basking in really HOT sunshine (that's what the BBC seems to imply!) we have had grey cloud, 12 degrees and a light drizzle today.

Anyone else suffered in the same way. Counselling may be needed for some of us!

And ........... a force 7 wind.

[Alice]

I think you've been specially picked on there Jennie. We had shade temps above 25 and dear knows what in the sun. Had to put up garden umbrellas to protect some plants. It was very windy, but like the Siroco, coming out of a hot oven. Very dull today but 20 degrees. Hope there's some sunshine on it's way to you.

[leona]

i wish there was a middle ground! its 29 degrees here and really still so its boiling. ive got 3 dogs (soon to be 4) and 2 of them compete. most weekends we go to shows and they have to spend quite a bit of time in the car.so far ive been lucky in that its not been over 22 at a show but i am off to peterborough on thurs or 4 nights and if its hot like this, il just have to come home. that aside, my spinach has bolted, lettuce has wilted and so have my courguettes although they pick up in the evening.
the grass isnt always greener...

[Squirrel]

Been wall to wall sunshine here today - and really hot! Someone told me at the carriage driving trials that it had reached 30C today! Shades of Africa!

Battled to keep the dog cool even with her loose in the shade under the car - that wind just was not in evidence. Came home to find everything wilted and in need of a good watering! Thank heavens we don't have a hosepipe ban!

[leona]

ive got all manner of things to keep the dogs cool in the car. silver sheets to go over the windows, clip on dog bowls and the latest thing is crate fans although they could do with being more powerful.
i used to ride and i was competing my horse in 2003 when it hit 38degrees..how we survived that i dont know.

[Jaxom]

This week we have been recording temps of 33 degrees. No rain fall for over a week. Sunburn on shoulders. loads of water in Wales so no hosepipe ban either which is a good thing as all my pots are needing water twice a day.
Jennie, perhaps you should try towing Shetland south for the summer

[Alice]

Leona, what kind of dogs do you have ? My neighbour has a delightful Border Terrier which she takes to the shows. He got 2 seconds at Crufts this year. One in his class and one in the Good Citizen class. Needless to say she was running round the celing - my ceiling ! She's better at showing dogs than she is at gardening !! Sure she won't read this but if she did she would agree !

[JennieAtkinson]

[Jennie, perhaps you should try towing Shetland south for the summer [/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, we are normally towed in a box to a convenient spot on a map. My mother in law visited us in 1979 convinced she had travelled south from Aberdeen Airport! We have a T-shirt here of Shetland with the rest of the UK in a box! And what really gets me on the BBC weather maps is that we are behind the red spot, so can never see our forecast.

OK glad to get that off my chest!

Oh it would be lovely to have some warmer temps. This global warming thing just seems to make us more cloudy and colder! 25 years ago May and June in Shetland were fantastic and the rest of the summer not so bad. No so these days. May and June seem to be cloudy, grey, poor temps and lots of wind. Lets hope it gets better

Take the point thought, that your veg are all drying up in the heat. But I had to get the hose out tonight. The wind has been very drying.

[Jaxom]

Oh it would be lovely to have some warmer temps. This global warming thing just seems to make us more cloudy and colder! 25 years ago May and June in Shetland were fantastic and the rest of the summer not so bad. No so these days. May and June seem to be cloudy, grey, poor temps and lots of wind. Lets hope it gets better

What isle was "The Wicker Man" set on? [The idea in the film for those too young to have seen it, was that the practice of witchcraft would allow the islanders to grow tropical plants and have a bountiful harvest each year.]

Jennie, you could always become a Wiccan High Priestess and that might solve your problems You could have gardening magic at your sabbats. I am sure Rat would make the trip up to Shetland and dance in just his wellies round your bonfire

[JennieAtkinson]

Never heard of the Wicker Isle Jaxom (and I'm quite old!). Sounds interesting. If it was Shetland it obviously didn't work.

Rat and his wellies ..........
or perhaps rather ........

[Jaxom]

It was made in 1973 and stared Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland and Edward Woodward. It is set on the fictional remote island of Summerisle. I just don't know which island it was filmed on in reality?
It was a mix of Paganism and Christianity meeting and the interactions of the islanders and a mainland Policeman investigating the disappearance of a young island girl.

[Lesley Jay]

In reality it was filmed at Newton Stewart, Scotland. No filming was done on any island.

[Jaxom]

Thanks LJ. once more you come up trumps.

[Lesley Jay]

I risked google Jaxom - that film was a bit saucy judging by the pictures!!

[leona]

Leona, what kind of dogs do you have ? My neighbour has a delightful Border Terrier which she takes to the shows. He got 2 seconds at Crufts this year. One in his class and one in the Good Citizen class. Needless to say she was running round the celing - my ceiling ! She's better at showing dogs than she is at gardening !! Sure she won't read this but if she did she would agree !

i do agility with mine so not showing which i find really boring! ive got a german wirehaired pointer,irish terrier and a jack russle terrier. the irish was shown before we had her as we rescued her at 7 years.