#SoCS July 27/19 – Dirty/Clean

27 Jul 2019 39 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Linda’s #SoCS prompt this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “clean/dirty.” Use one, use both, use ’em any way you like. Enjoy!

Dirty is exactly how I felt today.

If you aren’t in the UK, we are in the midst of a mini heatwave. The temperatures have hit over 100°F/38°C in some places and we have been sweltering.

I know there are pther places who regularly deal with heat that is over 40°C. In fact my brother sent a photo today showing that where they are in Finland at the moment had a temperature of 48.1°C!

OMG!!! I’d die!

Anyway, here in the UK we are ill prepared for weather that is heatwave worthy. The houses and places of work aren’t generally equipped with air conditioning, and fans – well we all know how much help they are in the heat… pushing hot air around, rather than cooling you down.

The heat itself is just different. The humidity is high and that is what makes it uncomfortable. Days you spend perspiring (not gently, at all) and nights you spend tossing and turning, frantic to find a cool spot on your sheets.

Thursday was my last day at school, and it was the official hottest day of the summer so far. Great day to have all my nursery babies in, with their parents, to celebrate their progress in class this year, in a room that had a tiny fan… twice over!

I started the introductions and whatnot, and could feel rivulets of sweat rolling down the side of my face, dripping down my back, just generally everywhere. A handheld fan made no difference whatsoever. The morning session ended with us saying goodbye, and the hugs we gave the students were sticky.

Then I had a staff leavers assembly to attend. 420 kids in a hall and lots of adults… no AC. It was torture!

After that we had Lil Princess’s leaver’s assembly which was emotional, and I needed tissues for my eyes as well as for mopping my damp brow. They then went outside for photos and general hugs, but it was too hot!

As I began to melt, the children were sent in and parents waved off.

A quick lunch then I had Nursery celebration take 2 with the afternoon session. The sweating was even worse!

We ended the day with a cream tea in one of the 4 classrooms in our school that actually has AC. It was bliss!

Then back into our own rooms that were stifling.

I looked at the mirror. My hair was plastered to my head. I felt itchy. My scalp, dirty with the grime of a busy day.

All I wanted to do was get home and jump in the shower to wash my hair clean.

But I couldn’t. You see there is some crazy superstition in the Indoan culture about washing your hair on a Thursday being bad luck for your brother. Don’t ask me. I just get told these things and they stick in your head.

So I didn’t wash it.

I wasn’t about to yesterday morning either. I had a day full of heaving furtniture around in my new clasroom and I knew I would be sweating buckets again.

What’s the point?

Better I wash it and have a lovely end of day shower.

And, oh my, you should have seen the water as it rinsed off my head… YUCK!

I came out of the shower fresh as a daisy, feeling so cool and CLEAN!

For precisely one minute.

Seriously. That is how long it took for beads of sweat to start forming on my upper lip and forehead again.

What was the point???

But surely rather than hair staying dirty another day, it was better to have at least a moment of clean!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 27/19

39 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Lisa Coleman
    Aug 13, 2019 @ 00:38:41

    We have The Weather Channel here in the US. I watch it every morning & hear about your impossible situation. I also see it on the internet. I’m sorry you and everyone else over there is going through this. I got into my car today after work & my gauge read 102F. I know the air temp was only 95F or so. We have air conditioners in Florida. Have to! Because I’m going through “THE CHANGE”, I just bought a large doggie cooling mat. OMG! It works! I can sit in my recliner & have that on my back. It doesn’t go in the freezer. I don’t know how it works, but it does. I got it at Bed, Bath & Beyond. May be something you can order online on Amazon or something. It’s called Pawslife Cooling Pad. My dog don’t need it. I do!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Aug 13, 2019 @ 08:53:18

      Thanks for the suggestion Lisa!
      When it hears up, its ridiculous here, but it never lasrs long enough to warrant ac in houses. But my car… I need it there!

      Like

      Reply

  2. joey
    Jul 28, 2019 @ 01:45:25

    I am soooo sorry about your heatwave. I understand your homes are not designed for heatwave accommodations and I would be just as miserable, especially trying to sleep. In college, (no ac, August here is a lot of 90s) I put my top sheet in the freezer of my mini fridge and slept atop it. Totally serious. I sure hope it cools off for you soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Book Club Mom
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 19:54:26

    Eeek! I’ve been reading about the heat wave in England and Europe – hope you are cooler now!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Jacquie Biggar
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 18:52:13

    Having high humidity IS torture! Hope you get a break soon, {{hugs}}

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. scr4pl80
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 18:40:48

    I don’t have a brother so I wouldn’t have a problem with washing my hair on a Thursday. Any restrictions on sisters? I have three of those! I hate the feeling of being sticky from heat. Happy Saturday to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. John Holton
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 17:26:24

    I’m a little skeptical about that Finnish temperature reading. Anyway, hope you get some relief.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. OIKOS™-Publishing
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 16:19:25

    I am feeling with you, Sis! You are a wonderful storyteller too. 😉 Otherwise its my temperature. How do you think we are felt here in the past. Here in “Bavarian Siberia” with even months of fall, any only four weeks of summer? 😉 Now its a little bit better here, even the greater rest of inhabitants dont like it. Lol Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Erika Kind
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 15:52:32

    The heatwave has been in control over most part of Europe as far as I know. So, even outside the UK we know well what you are talking about but 48 in Finnland??? Really? Imagine the humidity they have there and yes, it is close to unbearable. Although this summer started wet it really caught up everywhere. T

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Jennie
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 14:01:51

    Great story, Ritu! I feel your pain. No AC here in New England with multiple days in the 90’s. Although, no superstition here about hair washing on Thursday. 😅

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Maggie
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 12:55:01

    I hope you get a break from the heat, soon. I do not know how I managed to live in Florida for so many years. At least we had afternoon thunderstorms to look forward to.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. robertawrites235681907
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 11:09:42

    It is definitely better to be clean, Ritu. The UK is not equipped for heat and we are not equipped for cold. Jolly freezing it’s been here.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  12. Darlene
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 07:49:47

    It is hot here in Spain too but at least we are prepared for it. I hope you get a reprieve soon. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Jul 27, 2019 @ 09:26:00

      Thanks Darlene! I think that us the biggest issue. We are really not prepared for heat or extreme cold… And seeing the number of floods in recent years, we aren’t ready for extreme rain either!!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. willowdot21
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 07:29:16

    A very busy couple of days, and the very hottest too. Stay clean today 💜💜💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Lola
    Jul 27, 2019 @ 06:36:04

    When can we get a break from this heat? Right?
    http://lolasdiner.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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