Scorcio!
It has been swelteringly hot this week. Indeed, there was a new record for the hottest day in May ever recorded in the UK! The temperature reached 35o on Tuesday in London (95o F). Our high in Moreton Pinkney was a mere 29o on Tuesday giving way to a balmy 28 o on Wednesday and a positively temperate 27o on Thursday. Scorcio!
You know what they say – Mad dogs and Englishmen . . .
To add to our enjoyment of the scorching temperatures, we managed to combine the heat with a water stoppage all day Wednesday. Please don’t get me started on the corrupt decision taken by Thatcher to privatise all the water companies, pay off their debts and sell them at half their value to her banking and hedge fund friends in the city. All they’ve done since then is saddle the companies with debt and pay their executives eye-watering bonuses and their shareholders scandalously large dividends while neglecting the maintenance of the infrastructure. So, the fact that a pump failed and it took more than 24 hours to get it fixed is a mere coincidence, I’m sure. Having said that, for us it was irritating but hardly life-threatening – to judge by some of the comments on the village Facebook page you’d be forgiven for thinking this was akin to living in Gaza or the Sudan, perhaps. First-world problems. So we were a bit smelly for a day. Some might suggest that I am smelly most of the time.
Someone had a birthday this week and that provided an excuse for a bit of indulgence. We went across to The Plough in Everdon for lunch on Thursday with Nick and Annabelle.
The weather was gorgeous and the food was very tasty. However, we were a bit taken aback by the increase in their prices since we were there last. And, the relatively paltry menu selection. They’ve clearly pitched it as fine cuisine (which it is) but there was nothing for the occasional passer-by who might fancy a sandwich or fish and chips, perhaps. Since it was a special occasion for someone special, I didn’t mind too much but, I’m sorry to say, we won’t be going again for a while. When is the next “special occasion”?
Thursday evening we collected Jessie and made our way to the Royal Derngate Theatre in Northampton to see and hear Hamza Yassin, an exceedingly accomplished wildlife photographer.
Even if you’ve not heard of him hitherto, if you’ve seen any wildlife programs you’ve probably seen his work. He’s done a lot of work with the BBC and, in particular, with David Attenborough.
I saw him in Kendal in February and immediately thought this might be something Jess would be interested in – she is developing a keen interest in wildlife and is very knowledgeable.
The talk was simply fabulous and Jessie was enraptured throughout – the three hours (!) flew by in what seemed a matter of moments. The place was packed and we spent almost as much time getting out of the car park. Jessie was buzzing all the way home.
Jessie came back to ours for a sleep-over and on Friday afternoon we trotted back to Northampton for a “proper” birthday celebration at Adam & Ava’s. (For those of you who have not been paying attention, Penny and Jessie share the same birthday). Adam prepared a barbecue and we had a great time. And, the weather was still somewhat “scorchio” – perfect.
Yesterday, another outing – why not? We took Jessie and Juju (and Adam) to see The Gruffalo at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.
Thank goodness all that excitement is over for another year – perhaps now we can have a rest.
I ran across an interesting article on the BBC web site – an article about the white elephant that is the HS2 high-speed railway. What made this article particularly pertinent was that the part of the line they focussed on is just down the road from us. We drive through this moonscape every time we go to Banbury. Current estimates suggest it will be more than ten years late and cost more than three times the original budget. To build about half what was originally planned. Want lessons on how not to run a major infrastructure project? Just ask the Brits – you could not make it up.
One of our neighbours, Claire Poulton (McCombe), is currently cycling the Wild Atlantic Coast in aid of Motor Neuron Disease. At the moment she is riding one of the last sections of Eurovelo 1 which runs from Portugal to about 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Alone. Wild camping.
The Atlantic Coast cycle route (also known as Eurovelo 1) is more than 6,800 miles long and connects six European countries. Anyone who attempts the epic ride which connects the northernmost tip of Europe 300 miles above the Arctic Circle to Portugal’s north western border, will have to cycle through desertlike conditions as well as steep climbs along remote stretches far from any human settlement.
As you read this, Northants woman Claire McCombe (who is of a pensionable age), is cycling alone in Norway along what is considered the most brutal part of the journey. Having set off at the weekend, she will be wildcamping along the anticipated several weeks 1,851 mile journey, with just a few vital bits of sustenance in her bag; her only companion her trusty Oxford Bike Works Margaret (named after a godmother whose inheritance helped purchase the bicycle).
She has already completed several sections of the ride, having cycled through Portugal, Spain, France, England, Wales, Scotland and half of Ireland, but this Scandinavian leg is the one that she is most anxious about.
NN Journal, 5 May 2026
Amazing! Follow her on her Facebook page – her writing is fabulous. And, if you would like to make a contribution to support her efforts you can do so here.
And finally, even though it’s been a busy, busy week, Penny has achieved quite a bit in the garden despite the scorching weather. I’ve watched with admiration.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And, be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get. And, hold your loved ones close.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg