Coping with the heat

Another good night's sleep. As it's warmer now, it doesn't take so long to drop off again after getting up to empty my bladder. It's humid today with the temperature rising above 30C. Yesterday's thunder storms caused Bristol airport's radar and air traffic control systems to malfunction, so the airport had to close. Increasing frequency of extreme weather events and the element of unpredictability is likely to have an impact on air travel the world now relies on, even more lasting than bouts of conflict.

Peace talks between America and Iran are continuing in Switzerland. Marine traffic through the Straight of Hormuz slowly builds up, the blockade of Iranian ports is lifted and inspection of Iranian nuclear facilities is said to be agreed, but contradictory statements are issued by each side about what is actually happening. Trump is notorious for making public statements that keep people guessing. It seems Iran is willing to play the same game. Israel continues deadly strikes against Hezbollah in South Lebanon. America is trying to mediate in talks to end fighting that threatens progress in talks between Iran and America. Hezbollah isn't included.

Fran arrived for a study session with Clare mid morning, but she was the only one. I hope the parking restrictions in our area aren't acting as a deterrent. Other group members may be away, or reluctant to go out in the heat. I had a call from Eileen who holds the key for St John's. I'm booked to celebrate the Eucharist there tomorrow, but it seems the congregation of regulars, all elderly, are reluctant to venture out while there's an amber/red heat warning, so we agreed to cancel and I announced it on WhatsApp.

I cooked sausages for lunch, with sweet potatoes and new potatoes plus carrots, then I walked for an hour in the shade of the trees in Llandaff and Pontcanna Fields. I can tolerate this kind of humid heat without ill effect. It's a legacy of time spent on locum duty in the heat of the Costa del Sol. I slow down, drink plenty of water, seek the breeze and shade, take every opportunity to linger in cool places and always wear a sun hat outdoors if the sun is high. The parks are quieter than usual, fewer picnickers, runners or cyclists, a handful of people sunbathing in the afternoon heat.

Last Saturday when I walked in Pontcanna Fields I came across a large Holm Oak that lay across the path running beside the boundary wall of the cricket ground. Since then it's been made safe and its huge fallen limb cut into sections. Will these be taken somewhere else and used, or simply left to rot in situ? As often seems to be the case. It's unsightly in my opinion, making the park appear less cared for than it really is.

I spent the evening reading the novel 'Communion' by John Doyle, a writer from Port Talbot, which Clare gave me for my birthday. He portrays the life of a working class Catholic living in the shadow of the steel works in this present era of conversion from coal fired steel making to electric arc furnaces with the social upheaval and industrial relations issues involved for the community and its workers. At the same time it portrays the staging of the Port Talbot community's Passion Play under the leadership of the actor and local boy Michael Sheen. I'm glad I saw a video of that production ten years ago, as it gives the real life context for the drama going on in the background at the heart of the story. The writer uses a plethora of short sentences not only for conversation but for setting the scene poetically or evoking a mood, a bit like a pointillist painter. On times this makes reading slow going - or maybe it's because I'm getting tired.