The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Damn it's hot!

It hit 40°C here today (104F). It can and does get up to 45 - not for long, admittedly, but damn it's miserable! Yesterday I drove over to see my friend. I had a second birthday gift that arrived after his birthday so we arranged to meet up and have lunch together. After that, since I'm on a "walking" drive, I suggested we went out walking. Now he lives at the foot of the Jura mountains, which are absolutely beautiful. They are totally different to the alps - more brooding whereas the alps are more majestic, in my opinion - but he never goes up there to walk. He walks much more than I do but not in the mountains. While we were walking he commented that "this is uphill" - er nah, it was the equivalent of one step up - but then he's 13 years older than me so I guess whatever works for him. That being said, after about 30 minutes he took one look at my face (remember "puce") and said "let's go back, you look dreadful"! So we made our way back to his place where I stripped off and had an ice cold shower. I told you I looked bad when I walk. That being said, for a couple of months it is really miserable here. The heat is appalling and we generally don't have AC so we put up with it. I've had a couple of cold showers already today so we'll see how it goes tonight. I also made the mistake of telling him I'd like to lose 17 kg (40lbs) by Christmas so I'm guessing he's gonna hold my feet to the fire!

In other news, I don't know if it's due to covid or just in general but by golly there are a lot of bees and butterflies around at the moment. I have a buddleia (arbre à papillons - a butterfly tree) by my front door and it is heaving with butterflies and bees right now - just so lovely. I asked my friend if he had noticed and he agreed there really were a lot more butterflies, at least, now than previously.

In my bid to switch to a more vegetarian/vegan lifestyle I ordered two bottles of vitamins (mainly B12) off Amazon the other day, as I understand B12 is one of the main vitamins likely to be missing if you switch to a vegan diet. Trouble is, when I opened my mailbox the Amazon parcel was in very poor shape and there was only one bottle in the package. So I contacted Amazon to explain my problem and I have to say their customer service was excellent. I explained that it was a "packing" problem as far as I could see, but the young woman got back to me and told me to keep the one bottle I had but that they would credit me the entire amount! I replied that I had indeed received one bottle but she said not to worry, and bingo they credited me back the entire amount. Now say what you like about big business (and I'm all for supporting small businesses) but their customer service is excellent. Well done Amazon!

And I mentioned my ex's FB page yesterday - well guess what? Today I got a "friend request" from what would appear to be a newly-created FB page by my ex. I have no idea what he's doing (he was probably three sheets to the wind when he created it anyway), but he got his date of birth right except that he put that he was born in 1992 - the year our second son was born. I just deleted it. I don't think it's a scam but I do wonder why he is creating a second FB page in the first place. Hmmmmm! Maybe all isn't well in schmoopieland!

Then just a few minutes ago I got a call from Jen asking if I would like to have lunch with them all on Saturday (of course I would) and André asked if I would go through his divorce paperwork with him to see that he hadn't missed anything. No problem there for me - I read everything before I sign it anyway - and so should he!

And finally, I may be a bit late to the party but I just discovered Jordan Rabjohn on Youtube. I tried posting a video on here but it doesn't seem to work. Anyway, if you can be bothered, look up this young man. He is a talented singer and musician - but his mother's voice is out of this world - something he readily admits! Try listening to "Rise up" by Jordan Rabjohn. They seem to have a lovely relationship. He definitely has the gift of the gab and she seems like so much fun. Damn, I wish I had a talent or a passion like that!
Posted by at

12 comments:

  1. Anne in the kitchen30 July 2020 at 22:49

    I have watched them and I think her voice is stellar. It was not what I expected at first.
    Glad you enjoyed your walk even in the heat. It stays hot here all summer but we have central air so you can always cool down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders31 July 2020 at 07:29

      She has a lovely voice doesn't she - and they look like a fun family too!

      Delete
  2. Dave R30 July 2020 at 22:55

    Temp wise, we've been in the high 90's for the past 2 weeks,not that I mind it since I have Central Air. The dogs love it. I only take Vitamin D, I'm one of those people who seems to be constantly deficient.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders31 July 2020 at 07:33

      The neighbours recently put AC in their living room and bedroom and are really glad they did. In Europe people generally don't have it. Shops and (most) offices do, although not where I used to work as it was a listed building. We just had to open the windows and try to get a through breeze from the lake. It could be pretty miserable though so I would disappear for 10 minutes and have a cold shower there too. I know B12 tends to be the vitamin that vegans at least can be deficient in because it comes from animal products - still you can't beat 180 tablets for free can you!

      Delete
  3. SAM31 July 2020 at 00:55

    4o pounds is what I woudllike to lose (well minimally_ to feellike I am healtheir, Shall be international weigh tlose buddies and hold eachother accoutnable? I was doing so well-had lost 10 since March, but sadly four have crept backon-and I have a very budgy tummy. I like hot, but that woudl be miserable for even me, articualrly at night to sleep. I hope the showers help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders31 July 2020 at 07:37

      That would be fun to have a weight loss buddy. I don't actually have a "cunning plan" though so I'd better put my thinking hat on! Like so many of us, I was pretty always skinny - and then menopause hit! I put on 16 kg in what felt like as many minutes so I kinda resent it. So onwards and upwards (or downwards) it is then!

      Delete
  4. Ms. Moon31 July 2020 at 01:47

    Forty pounds by Christmas? That's pretty bold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders31 July 2020 at 07:38

      Ha, and I have no idea how I'm going to do it but if you think about it, it's less than 2 lbs a week, which is what all the slimming plans say is doable. I'll probably have to eat my words at Christmas but at least I've thrown it out there now haven't I!

      Delete
  5. Bob31 July 2020 at 13:37

    We were supposed to cool down a hair, but that's not happening; we're getting hotter and then there's a hurricane out there set to bring, at the least,a lot of rain on Sunday into Monday.
    Maybe that will cool us off.

    I love the song Rise Up. Have you heard Andra Day sing it? Gorgeous ... it's here ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKu1uNBVkU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders31 July 2020 at 14:18

      I had never heard of Andra Day until I saw this video (I'm not exactly up to speed on most things as you can guess - hell I only just finished watching the Sopranos), but she has a beautiful voice - and that video was very moving! And the thought of scorching weather followed by a hurricane????? Ew yuck. No thanks!

      Delete
  6. Marksgran31 July 2020 at 22:47

    I remember the heat in Geneva well, and there was no AC but on the plus side there was a very cool basement so we tended to take the bedding down there to sleep! Sounds like you have a nice social weekend to look forward to, hopefully it will cool down for you too.
    My new fitness regime is running up and down our stairs every day. I watched a Christmas movie where the woman becomes temporarily homeless in a posh kind of way (!) and to keep in shape she runs up and down stairs in an apartment building. At the beginning she can barely do it but by the end she can run up easily. This is my target although without the homeless bit! I'm putting my current weight gain to blame for how lethargic I feel just now so I need to get some discipline! Good luck with your weight loss. It's doable if not fun!! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaders1 August 2020 at 08:14

      OK, along with Sam we seem to have formed our own international weight loss group. It'll be interesting (or not!) to check in at Christmas then. I get my fair share of stairs here anyway but I do remember when we worked on the 7th floor and my (French - it had to be) colleague used to walk up them every day and not even out of breath. I wanted to punch her in the face really but damn you should see how fit she is (and at 60 too)! And I remember my brother and his wife sleeping in my unfinished basement one year too as the heat was horrendous. At least where I am we have loads of small lakes that we can go to (that's what the kids do). Better if you avoid lakes Geneva and Annecy as they get crowded but the smaller lakes are perfect. Good luck with your weight loss/fitness regime too!

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)