 Keeping Cool – Quick Five! Posted by Anna Sugden Aug 22 2012, 1:41 am It’s been a strange summer for us, weather-wise, here in England. a few glorious weeks, followed by endless rain. At one point it was so cold at night, we had to put the heating back on!
Now, as a nation we can tell you how to deal with cold – though obviously we’re not the experts as we don’t often have it REALLY cold and snow doesn’t fall two foot deep in September and last for six months. We can tell you how to deal with wet/damp and chilly – though it doesn’t rain as much as people would have you believe. At least, not in a normal year!
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? 2. Favourite cooling drink? 3. Favourite cool food? 4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? 5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)? As a special thank you, I’ll give one lucky commenter an official London 2012 Olympics pin. These have pretty much sold out across the country and are now collector’s items! TweetPosted in Anna Sugden, hot weather, keeping cool, quick five Comments76 thoughts on “Keeping Cool – Quick Five!” |
   
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is he coming back
Congrats – or is it commiserations – Barb!
Have fun with him Barbara I might not be able to get down for a cuppa
Helen
Barb, congrats on snagging the GR! Better keep him away from Helen’s house, though. You know he’s mad for Tim Tams!
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? Lived in the UK for almost 40 years before we came to Aus….can’t remember any days when it was too hot lol…. well not as hot as here…. we have aircon but I know if I go somewhere and they haven’t I have to dring plenty of water and keep the windows shut to keep the heat out
2. Favourite cooling drink? Cold water
3. Favourite cool food? Ice cream
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? Over here both depends where you are …. and if too hot stay inside with air con lol
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)? Mango
Trust me, Barb – it’s been scorching hot! It seems to be getting hotter every summer. Only for a few days, but still it’s almost unbearable!
Oh, to have aircon!
Hi Anna,
1. Having the fan on.
2. Ice cold Coke.
3. Shaved ice.
4. I kit up with shades and a cap.
5. Chocolate.
Are you ready for hockey season? I’m still hopeful that there’s no lockout.
I’m so ready for hockey, Jane. I will be so upset if there’s a lock-out. Especially as I’m coming to NY in November (around Thanksgiving) to catch a Devils game!
You definitely can’t beat an ice-cold Coke!
1. Try using an ice pack for when you are falling asleep. They have soft gel type ones that you can maybe put behind your neck. That might help you sleep.
2. I’m a big fan of the good old glass of ice water.
3. Watermelon
4. Kit up
5. Vanilla
Good luck with the heat. We are approaching the 90s this week in Northeast Ohio. I personally prefer a high around 65.
Great suggestion about the ice pack, Heather! I’d never have thought of that!
Thanks – they say the weather will break over the weekend. Which is par for the course as it’s a holiday weekend! Always rains on Bank Holiday Mondays!
Ice packs are great! Cheap version, ice cubes in a Ziploc, wrap in a towel, put behind your neck, feels so great if you have no a/c at night!
You are full of great ideas, Kestrel! I”m making notes!
BTW did I ever tell you that Kestrels are one of my favourite birds – I love seeing them hover over the fields. Such a fabulous sight. They always make me smile.
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? Fans on
2. Favourite cooling drink? Coke Zero
3. Favourite cool food? Ice cream
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? I definitely wear a hat
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream … Orange Choc chip!!!
I wish I had one of those ceiling fans, gypsylcm. Ordinary fans are too noisy!
Oooh never tried orange chocolate chip before – mint choc chip is my favourite.
1. I use a cool snake – a cotton tube with water retaining crystals in it. When you put it in cold water the crystals swell and stay cold.
2. Water.
3. Yoghurt. Sometimes it’s all I can face when it’s hot.
4. You have to cover up on a 40+ day or you could get seriously ill or burnt.
5. There are so many delicious flavours these days that you can have a different one each day for a month. Some I like are jackfruit, Baileys and maltesers.
I had to Google Cool Snakes, Laine – they look great. Shame they’re only in Oz – by the time I get one ordered and delivered it’ll be winter!
Lovely hubby makes an awesome Maltesers ice cream – another favourite! Bailey’s ice cream sounds very nice – must get some.
Hi Anna
I do enjoy these quick 5′s
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con?
The less clothes the better LOL and keep the window wide open to catch any breeze
2. Favourite cooling drink?
Lots of ice water or pepsi max
3. Favourite cool food?
Would have to be cold water melon or ice cream
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)?
I stay indoors LOL or I wear hat and sunglasses and sun screen
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)?
Vanilla
Have Fun
Helen
LOL Helen – definitely the less clothes the better at night! I’m not helped by having hot flushes too. What a time to be getting those!
Watermelon isn’t as big here as it is in the US or Oz. I do have fond memories of it.
I live in the US, Upstate South Carolina, so I know heat well. The damp, sticky gross kind. I also grew up in Arizona, so have experience with the hot, dry kind as well.
Our A/C went out briefly this summer, so here are some tips:
1. At night, best thing I can suggest is to open windows and run fans. You can buy screening and attach velcro around your windows to help with bugs.
2. Drink – I could not be allowed to live in the South if I didn’t suggest iced tea!
3. Food – Fruit salad, lots of melons
4. You should always use sunscreen, but I live in tank tops in the summer. Shades optional.
5. Fave Ice Cream – pistachio or mint chocolate chip, so long as it’s green!
LOVE South Carolina, Kestrel. Charleston is one of my all-time favourite cities.
Iced tea?! (stop laughing, Tawny!) Ick! Sorry – just not the thing for this Brit. *g*. There used to be a conventional wisdom from ex-pats living in tropical climes to drink hot tea to keep cool. Not sure I subscribe to that philosophy either! Love lemonade, though.
Anna, I sympathize on the weird weather. Right now, we are having unseasonably COOL weather. It has been in the low-to-mid 80s for the past several days. In August! In North Carolina! It’s usually hovering in the upper 90s and as stinking hot as you can stand at this time of year. Very strange, indeed!
1. Staying cool with no A/C: Keep the fans going and make sure the air is circulating through the house, not just in a certain room. Moving air ALWAYS feels cooler than still air. Also, try not to move. There’s a reason Southerners got a rep for being “lazy”, after all.
2. Drink – Ice cold well water. There is nothing colder and it requires no ice. In the absence of cold well water, I would opt for ice water. Nothing else refreshes like it (though an icy gin and tonic is close!).
3. Food – Iced watermelon is a real treat on hot summer days. Nothing cools you off faster, though you end up needing to rinse off afterward.
4. Clothes – Honestly, the coolest thing to wear is a very thin and loose cotton dress. We tend to wear skimpy, tight things, but something loose that lets the air move around your legs is MUCH cooler.
5. Ice Cream – I love orange sherbet, which technically isn’t “ice cream” or a lemon or lime sorbet. For homemade ice cream, though, PEACH trumps every other flavor. It just tastes like summer!
I hope you get a break in the weather soon, Anna. Though I’m enjoying our cooler temps, I have a feeling they have strayed far from home and should be visiting you!
LOL Caren, I’m sure the hotter weather will return to you on Monday. Our Bank Holidays are never good weather. Watch out for it!
I love cotton dresses and floaty skirts and find them so much more comfortable than skimpy things (perhaps it’s my age!). I have a favourite that’s about 15 years old that is so comfortable and cool and it always gets compliments whenever I wear it.
1. We have had 34 days with temps over 100 deg this summer. Besides keeping the windows open and fans on, keep a spray bottle full of cool water near and mist yourself every now and then.
2. Being in the south, the best drink has always been cold, iced Lemonade.
3. Buy a bag of frozen fruit, set it out for an hour, and eat it before completely thawed. Chill!
4. No sleeve, cotton top with shorts.
5. Plain vanilla ice cream in a glass with root beer (like a float) then stir it together into a drink. Mmmmmm.
Sorry – reply below!
I have a cool fan with a water bottle attached, grandmabkr, that is great for keeping me cool at the beach. Perhaps I should use it at home!
Ah, you’re singing the favourite song of several Banditas with a rot beer float.
Oops – that should have been in reply to comment by grandmabkr!
1. Have all the windows and doors open along with every fan blowing on high. Take a cold shower to help cool you off.
2. Ice water
3. Ice cream
4. When it’s hot I try to stay indoors. So, I can be comfortable.
5. Mint chocolate chip ice cream. Yum!
Yay – another fan of mint choc chip!
Good suggestion about the cool shower, Melody May.
Fun topic, Anna. We often have 100+ degree temperature here in northern California, so we really HAVE to have air conditioning and various fans blowing around the house (ceiling fans, all-house fans) to make it bearable.
Fortunately, we often get a lovely delta breeze that comes up from Stockton and cools down the nights (that’s when we use our all-house fan) and our house is nicely insulated.
My fave cooling off drink is ice water, but I find myself reaching for PEPSI!!! Doesn’t really do the trick, but tastes good.
I love ice cream, but it just makes me thirsty!
I’m not much for watermelon, but Dr. Big loves to chow down on a big slice (and it looks so refreshing).
Jo, I’m with Mr. Big!! I bought some on my way home from work this morning and ate two big slices!! Sort of my midnight snack!
I really miss our air-con, Jo. We got quite used to it when we lived in NJ. I suspect in years to come, the UK is going to have to start including air-con in houses.
Funnily enough, I love watermelon, but lovely hubby doesn’t.
Sorry you’r having a miserable few days, Anna! Hopefully it won’t last long!!
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? First go out for a midnight swim. That helps cool me down! Then sleep naked with the fan blowing to get evaporative cooling affects!
2. Favourite cooling drink? homemade lemonade or ice cold water.
3. Favourite cool food? Well, many Texans like to eat hot & spicey food washed down with cold beers. Unfortunately, my ulcers won’t allow for the ingestion of jalepenos or habeneros. So I go for frozen lemon ices!!
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? I tend to sit in the shade with sunglasses on when I’m not in the pool!
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)? This is a toss up between Homemade brands’ Moo-lieneum Crunch, (pecans, almonds, chocolate chunks and caramel chunks) and Dulce Leche icecream! Love them both!!
Oh to have a pool, Suzanne! Very few gardens over here are big enough for a pool and even those that are, people don’t tend to have them because they’re really only useful for a few days a year.
I’ve been thinking about getting one of those kiddy paddling pools. Do you think they’ll care if I don’t have kidlets running around? *g*
When it’s hot out I always have a mug of ice water to sip. I find it helps cool me down. I tend to vary flavors of ice cream but pistachio is my favorite.
Have you found somewhere that does a nice version of pistachio ice cream, Sandy? I must admit those I’ve tasted are always too fake.
Depending on your house floor plan, have 2 open windows, place a fan exhausting the air out on the opposite side of house or better yet, 2nd floor of house.. works kind of like a chimney. And fans in any occupied rooms..
cool water with lemon slices
smoothies and fresh cut fruit
premium vanilla with chocolate bits
stay indoors near a fan
Windows open and fans seem to be a common theme, CateS. It’s only in recent years we’ve even got a fan here, and that’s one my in-laws gave us!
Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? Other than taking cool shovers and sleeping in the nude, no. At day time, if it’s truly hot, I might wear a damp t-shirt. It cools quite a bit.
Favourite cooling drink? Very cold water.
Closing Ceremony – Monty Python Eric Idle – London 2012 Olympic Games
That was a fab Closing Ceremony, Minna, and we all enjoyed Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (da doo, da doo da doo da doo) – it’s a well-known footie song at Man Utd.
1. Lots of window fans. Also, easy and cooling–a wet washcloth, folded in half, placed in the freezer, and then applied to the forehead or the neck.
2. Water with lots of crushed ice.
3. Melon balls–watermelon, canteloupe, and honeydew–just looking at them makes me feel cooler.
4. light colors, loose clothing–and, if I’m outside, sunscreen to prevent a burn that even air conditioning won’t help.
5. I’m with Caren on peach ice cream being the taste of summer, but it has to be home made. If it’s store bought, I’ll take pecan praline.
Great idea, Janga, about the washcloth. will be giving that a go tonight!
Love melon balls! Also love peach ice-cream, though admit to loving home-made nectarine ice cream better.
80s & 90s, during last summer’s heat and
drought in Texas, we would have been so happy to have those instead of the triple
digit temperatures we did experience!
1. Way back in the medieval days, Mother
would purchase blocks of ice. Placed in a
shallow container with a fan blowing on it,
this produced a coolness that made life
more liveable.
2. Water
3. Ice cream in my favorite vanilla flavor.
4. Light clothing in white/light colors.
Pat C.
I remember the fan and ice trick from my days of living in the Middle East, Pat. Of course, in those days we also had those big mossie nets to protect you from the bugs.
I think the problem is, over here, we’re just not used to major hot temps … hence the no air-con or ceiling fans (though I’m seriously investigating the latter for our bedroom!)
1. We use a lot of fans – ceiling or portable.
2. Margaritas or water with lemon.
3. Salads (fruit or otherwise)
4.Usually capris and a light top.
5.Butter pecan or plain vanilla.
You’re my kind of gal, catslady – though I’ll take a mojito rather than a margarita!
It’s shorts and t’s for us at the moment. And the T’s are very thin ones – who knew you could get t-shirts that are too heavy!
When it comes to beating the heat, I head immediately for the movies. A diet coke & an insanely cold movie theatre (they’re ALWAYS chilly) do me right every time. In fact, tonight my local theatre is playing Singing in the Rain, so I’ll get my cool air, a diet coke AND a couple hours with my movie-boyfriend Danny Kaye.
Big happy sigh.
Susan….uhm, Danny Kaye isn’t in Singing In The Rain. Just Gene Kelley and Donald O’ Connor, both of whom are lovely dancers, but no Danny Kaye. Sorry!
LOL Suz beat me to it – Donald O’Connor in Singing in the Rain – wonderful movie BTW. One of my faves!
You know – that’s a great way to stay cool! Classic movie, popcorn and air-con! Why didn’t I think of that?!
LOL Anna – the one and only time that I was in England, it was scorching hot (especially on the top tier of a double decker tourist bus). I find it hard to believe it’s all that unusual
Staying cool with no a/c – This can be tough when the nights are hot as well. I know this from the power outages from a bad storm at the end of June. Fans help – especially powerful attic fans that draw through the whole house – but sometimes that means it’s just moving the hot air around.
Cool drink – anything with lots of ice (add a little alcohol and you forget you’re hot
)
I wear a bathing suit and live at the pool if it’s that hot! Otherwise, minimimal is best.
My fave is Graeter’s black raspberry chip that has these humongous chunks of chocolate in it -or mocha chip (same chocolate)
Hope you cool down soon!
Cool food – anything eaten in a restaurant with air-conditioning. LOL
LOL Donna – here in Cambridge, it’s not that unusual to have a nice summer, but very hot is rare. Especially after all the rain. Still, with global warming, or whatever they blame – latest being issues with the Gulf Stream – I do think it’s going to become the norm to have hot, hot, hot summers and very cold winters.
I wish there were quieter fans. I can’t sleep with the fan on – too noisy!
Hi Anna,
1. I always jump in the shower and finish with cool water, then jump into bed wet with a fan……ahhhhh!
2. Ice water is all that will work for me.
3. Frozen grapes or ice cold watermelon.
4. I always wear a visor…it lets the heat escape and I sit in the shade.
5.NOTHING beats chocolate!
keep cool
Frozen grapes! They sound awesome, Deelyn!
Thanks – I’m doing my best! We had an evening shower of rain, so the temps has cooled a touch! YAY!
Hi Anna! Best heat buster we found on a night with no air con………wet a thin piece of material like a kikoi, wring it out, lay down in your birthday suit and cover yourself with the damp kikoi….it works wonders to cool you down.
That’s a great tip, Jenny. I’m going to try it! Thanks!
Vrai, always a pleasure to come here and see a post by you.
We in Seattle have been sharing your weather, i.e., a few days of sunshine followed by cold and gray. When you get one, we get the other.
1. Keep window shades down all day and keep fans running all day at least in the bedrooms and main living areas.
2. Ice-cold water and drink plenty of it.
3. Watermelon that’s been kept in the fridge.
4. Shades & hat, yet. Also very thin cotton clothes, preferably 3/4 sleeves.
5. Rum-n-Raisin by Haagen-Daaz.
Keira! Always a treat to see you here, love!
You know, rum and raisin by Haagen Daaz was my first sophisticted ice cream *g*. I have a real soft spot for it. Hmm must ask lovely hubby to give it a go with the ice-cream maker!
1. I have no secrets for staying cool, so I have to rely on the ac.
2. water or a milkshake
3. watermelon or ice cream
4. I never wear hats or sunglasses. I also never wear layers in winter.
5. vanilla
*sigh* I do miss air-con, Kim!
Lucky you not having to wear shades. I can’t step outside without them!
How fun, Anna!
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? Hmm…I don’t have any tips for this but when it gets really hot, my son will sleep in the basement where it’s always cool and dark
2. Favourite cooling drink? Iced coffee.
3. Favourite cool food? Any kind of salad.
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? I strip off but limit my time in the sun.
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)? That’s a tough one. I guess I’ll pick the raspberry cheesecake ice cream my younger daughter made. It’s soo good
Oooh raspberry cheesecake ice-cream sounds yummy. You’ll have to get your daughter to send me the recipe and I’ll get lovely hubby to give it a go!
LOL on the iced coffee … you’re getting as bad as Tawny with her iced tea!
We tend to sleep in the basement when it gets hot.
Ice water
Ice cream
I wear sunglasses.
Fuge swirl
*sigh* no basements here, Rebekah – so that one won’t work either! Some houses do have cellars, but not many. I guess, the coolest place is the garage, but the spiders make that a no-no!
Last week was a scorcher here but it has now cool down. My quick five:
1. Turn on the fan
2. Ice cold water
3. Watermelon
4.Sunscreen and shade
5.Mint chocolate chip
Yay another mint choc chip fan, Na! You have great taste! LOL
1. windows open and fan. (I live in the mountains, it is never hot at night)
2. ice tea
3. watermelon
4. shades
5. chocolate
Hey Phyllis – lucky you, living in the mountains. The highest point here is a local hill that’s gently sloping!
Sounds like we need a watermelon party here in the Lair!
1. Get an air-con or a fan? LOL Otherwise, take a freezing cold shower right before hopping into bed. Sometimes I listen to Air’s Talkie Walkie album. I don’t know if it has to do with the music or the fact that I first listened to it on a breezy cool summer’s night, in the passenger seat of a car as we’re driving along with the windows down…or perhaps a bit of both.
2. It’s a toss-up between one of Second Cup’s Italian sodas, Second Cup’s Icepresso, the largest slushie you can get at the corner store or a tall sweaty glass of iced tea with ice cubes.
3. Popsicles
4. I totally kit up…though preferably, I’d stay indoors.
5. Real good quality French vanilla
If only we could get air-con, Pissenlit!
Ooh good idea about listening to cooling music – perhaps I should listen to Summer Breeze … or Ice, Ice Baby!
Being from Australia, we have a collection of ways to keep cool… some of us just don’t follow the rules that’s all.
1. Tips for keeping cool at night if there’s no air-con? This one’s easier than you think. Take a nice cool shower and wet your hair – don’t don’t blow dry – and then before you go to bed, spray some water all over your bed, sheets and pillow and then put a damp towel down on the area where you’re going to sleep too… and you’ll drop off in no time.
2. Favourite cooling drink? Cool Cranberry Juice with ice… it’s cold and good for your organs too. If you don’t have that, ice cold water. Or, home made ice tea.
3. Favourite cool food? Aah, I love to eat my famous avocado and lettuce sandwiches. It’s nice and the lettuce keeps you feel cool too.
4. Do you kit up (shades, hat, cover-up) or do you strip off (sun-screen and as little as possible – shades optional)? Well… it depends on what you mean. I wear a mini-skirt and a small top, and then sit in the shade of my carport where a nice breeze blows through… ahh… nice place to read.
5. Favourite ice cream flavour (well, what’s more fun on a hot day than ice cream? *g*)? I don’t eat ice cream; most of them give me mouth ulcers. Otherwise, I will eat the Milo Ice-creams – yep, I know it’s junk food – or I’ll down a Jones’ Root Beer or two…
But no ice cream. 
I see there’s a common theme to taking a cool shower and going to bed wet, Mozette!
I love cranberry juice – my latest fave drink is cranberry juice and fizzy water – love it!
I’m still trying to wrap my head around scorching heat in England. The three years I lived there and the times afterward when I visited there was never anything even close to scorching weather!
Here in LA, however, (Lower Alabama) we get heat and humidity so bad even Tarzan would have to say “DAYUM, it’s hot!”
1. Fans blowing over a tub of ice. There are pillows available that stay cool all the time. Definitely worth a try. You can also order removable screens that velcro onto your windows.
2. Iced tea, specifically Milo’s Iced tea with LOTS of ice.
3. My Mom’s ambrosia chilled and fresh from the fridge!
4. At work I have no choice, but at home I live in the middle of five acres so I can wear as little or as much as I like!
5. Favorite ice cream flavor? Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip !
What is ambrosia? I’ve heard of it but never had it.
LOL that’s the problem, Louisa! Everyone’s trying to wrap our heads around scorching in England! By the time we do, it usually cools down, but there have been some record-breakers recently!
Must check into those removable screens! Would be helpful for keeping inquisitive cats at bay too. Not that we keep ours in, but our climber, CC, thinks nothing of going out onto a ledge two stories up!
Ambrosia is divine, Mozette! Or at least my Mom’s is. It is a fruit salad concoction. I know Mom puts coconut, kiki, mandarin oranges, pineapple, pecans, fruit cocktail, marshmallows and whipped topping in it. Freshly chilled it is heavenly!
Interesting – I think of ambrosia as being rice pudding, Louisa. Didn’t realise it was a fruit salad.
1. fans on
2. dress very lightly.
3. Lemon water with ice
4. Shower
5. French silk – choc. with vanilla