This week there were a number of words I was toying with to use as my Word Of The Week, and in the end I thought the word heatwave was the best choice of word to relate to the past week.
I Couldn’t Resist It…
A couple of weeks back my Word Of The Week was Peculiar – which I also chose to describe the weather we had been having at the time – and I wanted to stay in touch with my typically English side. I am also sipping a cup of tea as I write this, just to complete the picture!
Why Heatwave?…
As you can probably guess it’s because we have been having a heatwave here in Zakynthos. We can’t complain as it’s the first heatwave of the summer and it’s now mid August. It’s been a relatively mild heatwave though with temperatures only reaching around 37/38C…We have had years when the mercury hits over 40C and it is not unknown for temperature warnings to be given out on the news. If I remember correctly the hottest I have ever known it here was 45C, but that was only on two occasions…Now that was hot!
There have been years when we seem to be in one continuous heatwave, which is only broken up periodically by a day or two when the temperatures drop down to normal again. The main distinction between a heatwave and a hot day is the fact that during a heatwave the temperatures don’t drop very much at night, making a good nights sleep nigh on impossible.
Heatwaves here can make the summer long and aren’t good for the olive farmers or anyone else trying to grow their own fruit and vegetables. This winter we are expecting our oranges to be extra juicy as the summer hasn’t been as hot and dry as other years. And I can’t wait!
We were only last week commenting on the lack of heatwaves this year and saying that at least it won’t be unbearable for too long when we do inevitably get hit with one, as September is not too far off. Once September comes the temperatures are still hot, but never unbearable, which is a relief.
The Best Part Of A Heatwave Is…
That the sea is like a bath!
We try to get down to the beach for an evening swim at least twice a week. We only live a ten minute drive away, so there really is no excuse. Except that it is more than a little crazy out there on the roads, but what is my husband for if he can’t handle driving when I can’t?
An evening swim is a great way of winding down at the end of the day and due to the nearest beach being a Loggerhead turtle nesting site we have to be off it by eight thirty; which is fine by me if it means we aren’t interfering with the wonders of nature!
I love it when the sea is warm. I love wallowing like a whale in the shallow bit where the warm water settles. If you swim out deeper the sea does get cooler, but I have this aversion to deep water {ever since watching the film Jaws} and cold water, so shallow wallowing suits me fine. I will swim out and snorkel just as long as there are other people swimming close by that are out deeper than me. If Jaws is coming then he or she can eat them first!
Just For The Record…
There are very few sharks in the Mediterranean and I have honestly never heard of a shark attack in these waters, so my fears are totally unjustified {Jaws has a lot to answer for!}. I am probably the only person in the world who gets a sense of impending doom when on a pedalo boat and am fearful of shadows in a swimming pool. Maybe I was attacked or eaten by shark in a past life?
What’s you Word Of The Week?
Copyright © 2014 Debbie Roberts
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