Prohibited here !
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Even using bath water and buckets ?
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I was just going to bed - a bit later than usual (2.00am) but we were watching a drama series and we needed to see the next episode instead of saving it until tonight ! But I’ve done nothing today - no housework, no cooking. Just fed the animals and sat and done some ‘codeword’ puzzles that my brother sent me for my birthday.
Were you selling/exhibiting at the brocante ?
Have yourself a nice glass of wine Tory - it’ll cool you down 
I’ve lost track.. do you live nearby or passing through?
Either way, we have great memories of fabulous meals and wonderful fun in Laon (from 1970’s onwards..) 
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We’ve seen the city from the autoroute and told ourselves that when we had time we would visit. So now we have time, and have visited. We’ll leave in the morning for Cussy.
We’re staying at the Logis du Parvis directly opposite the cathedral. The square outside is busy and hot in the evening sun.
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I was in Laon early last year as one of my stops to visit the great cathedrals. I took the train and had to walk up the hill. It nearly did me in. At that time the parvis was all torn up and I really couldn’t get much of a view of the facade, but I really did enjoy the cathedral and what I saw of the city.
We finally got some rain in Chars early this morning . A fair amount, but much more is needed around here.
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I can visualise myself there, back in the day… I’d leave OH sipping his coffee at the café and cross the square to visit the cathedral.
and, yes, it was very hot each time we visited, as I recall.
We stayed at La Bannière de France, when it was run by the LeFèvre family… just a stroll from the cathedral.
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A bit early to talk about keeping warm, sorry! So I’ll start with the heat part first…
For next summer, if summers are going to be heat waves now, I’m going to get my current mobile AC unit installed properly in the room I spend most time in, my studio room where I’ve sweltered, which hasn’t been good for me!!! I think I can sleep ok with just a fan going in the bedroom – did so reasonably well during the last few weeks.
I’m thinking now about warm and comfortable clothing for indoors, for the coming winter. I like the idea of just slipping on something like this, over ordinary clothing – don’t need the boots or gloves - when sitting around in the afternoon/evenings. Have electric central heating which keeps the house warmish, but doesn’t keep me warm enough when sitting around.
Any thoughts about keeping warm indoors this winter?
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Personally, I now only wear 100% cotton clothes (and woollen jumpers in winter). I can’t stand synthetics any more, and I no longer breathe in microplastics or release them into the environment. You can find long-sleeved T-shirts, hoodies and trousers made from thick organic cotton that are very comfortable (brushed interior for a cozy feel and good heat retention). They’re comforting to wear indoors! If you’re interested, I can look for links to the websites where I bought them.
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Yes please…
Heated gilet are things I ve heard people who can’t move much say are wonderful.
For me sometimes wool is too heavy - we bought a lovely wool duvet that usually ends up being thrown on the floor.
Very happy belated birthday for yesterday 
. Sounds like you had a lovely day!
I had a stand, for the first and last (unless we have a freaky cold summer). I drank lots and think I still got a bit of heat stroke, felt pretty awful when I got home and taking it very easy today, just a brief trip into the garden to pick a tiny posy and some strawberries. It’s ‘cooler’ today but the humidity is awful so I’m having an inside day!
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These are German websites, but they ship to France at very reasonable rates. I’ve included links to the items I purchased—made from unbleached, undyed cotton and manufactured in Europe under ethical conditions. The cotton is of excellent quality and very soft.
There’s also a manufacturer of merino fleece—not petroleum-based. Excellent quality, too! Enjoy exploring the sites!
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Cashmere is lovely and light.
Merino fleece is soooo light 
!
I do agree, but… https://investigations.peta.org/peta-asia-exposes-cashmere-industry/
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Maybe french ‘grown’ alpaca?
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I also recommend this cotton fleece blanket—it’s super soft and much easier to care for than wool. I layer two of them in the winter when my bedroom is below 16°. It’s warm and breathable!
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Hope you really are having an inside day Tory. I do believe you deserve it after yesterdays episode.
I’m so fed up with this heat - my feet are swollen even though I wear compression tights and our bed is elevated at the bottom to raise my legs when in bed (as advised by our doctor). And because I keep on drinking lots, I keep on peeing lots. Not good when I have to get up two or three times in the night 
. But according to our weather forecast, it will start getting cooler after Wednesday. Thank goodness. Then we can get back to some semblance of order
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Something interesting was how much greener northern France particularly seems compared to Oxfordshire. Many of the fields were full of green leafy crops and verges were often green instead of crispy brown. Certainly there were a lot of harvested wheat fields looking like home, but there were also sprinkler systems going to keep crops alive. We did see a few burned hedges beside the road too, but fortunately it didn’t seem to have spread further.
I’m glad France has held out so well, at least in places.
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