Tuesday 25 May 2010

Hot and bothered

Hi Friends. This last week has presented a number of challenges - and I'm happy to say that I've come out fighting! Fighting against the hell of the heat that is. I know many of you won't even think that mid 20s/70s C/F is any sort of heat to get hot and bothered about. But to me, having grown up in the north where summer was 2 months you mainly pretended were warm enough to wear summer clothes, this is just really uncomfortable.

Part of the reason is living in an uninsulated attic flat. The slate absorbs the heat of the sun and the air trapped between that and the plaster board heats up and can't escape. The walls feel hot and it takes many hours to cool down again. It is hell on earth. Getting through that is a real psychological strain.

Another difficulty is my lack of clothing. And not being able to wear my coat when I go out. It's sort of like a protection to me - and kids me into thinking I'm hiding the fat under it - which I am to a small extent.

I didn't go out Thursday as I was too done in after 4 days out in a row. So Friday was the day I had to confront the world sans coat. I'm so glad I bought those cropped trousers! I put a pair of those on and a long t-shirt and silk overshirt.

I searched for my sandals - which I put away in boxes at the end of every summer - and FINALLY found the pair I was looking for only to be presented with the shock of not being able to get my feet into them. I have worn them the last 3 summers - yet now I could no way squeeze my feet into them.

PANIC! No footwear!

I had to walk into town with my grubby flip flops on - the ones I only ever wear indoors. I must have put on quite a bit of weight even on my feet. Add to that water retention due to the heat ...

I bought the first pair of sandals I tried on in Evans - a triple E fitting - which is the widest you can get on the high street. They're gladiator style and I love them and think they look great - the multiple straps really disguise the puffiness. I've been out walking in them and on my feet for three hours at a time and they're perfect.

I've been out every day since. Saturday: took another bag of books to the charity chop and went clothes shopping. I found a pair of cargo pants in a charity shop which *just about* fit. I didn't try them on because it was too hot. Sunday: a walk in the evening taking photos - I was out for 3 hours but with a lot of stopping to take pictures. Monday: continuous walking in the evening lasting 1 hour 50 mins. When I'm in condition - and carrying less weight - I can do that walk in 1 hr 30 mins, so I have plenty of improvement to make.

The positive thing about the heat - I have no desire to eat chocolate! I have eaten NOTHING with added sugar in the last week. Lucky I'm not into ice-cream :)

I have been determined to confront the heat, and to confront my fear of going out. It took me 4 hours on Sunday to work up the courage to get out, but I did it.
***

Continuing my walk.
On the other side of the road are a few backs of Victorian terraces and some student halls of residence. All the time you get glimpses of the hills that surround the city - as here between the garage and some workshops.
At this point the path is waaaay above the road as you can see from the traffic sign (green oblong, middle right)
When that path comes back down to earth again ... thought I'd photo this for you as red cast iron always *does it* for me. GR means "George Regina" - all post boxes have the cipher of the monarch on them - so this one dates between 1910 and 1936 (yes I did bleeping well look those dates up!)
 
On the main road


































The junction with the road which leads to the main campus
Looking up the road to Uni
Continuing on main road, on one side is this
And on the other side
And just so you don't start to think I live in Dingley Dell, here are some houses. Almshouses - built for the poor in Victorian times. They knew how to build chimneys in those days! They are flats for elderly people now. The modern building peeping behind is the college.

A little further on the same side
Other side of the road
And just over wall is the park where we went with the Bear's chips. I'll go back some other time to photo the fish and chip shop!
Just as a change from GREEN here's a sneak preview of my next lot of photos from a walk with the Bear. Some wisteria - which smelt fabulous!
***
Blimey. I've received FOUR awards in the last couple of weeks! I'll post details of all of those - plus all conditions next time - and think of some people to pass them onto.

Bearfriend xx

30 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you made it out for a walk anyway!!
    I'm a shoe size 5 triple E :) I do find it hard here in Canada to find shoes wide enough.

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  2. Well done on making it out for your walk despite the heat and the clothes and shoes problems, it shows how very determined you were! I sympathise with you suffering in this heat, we British people just don't have the internal air conditioning to cope with it!
    Its been a bit cooler here today, I hope you've found the same thing.
    i know I keep saying this and I'm getting boring but I loved the photos again! I feel as though I'm walking along the route with you!

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  3. More beautiful photos from across the pond! Glad you got that walk in. It's starting to get hot here now...and humid, which is the worst. Tomorrow we up to 90 or higher, and the same Thursday. Hate it! Will have to exercise in an air conditioned venue.

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  4. I usually get extra wide :) Its sounds lovely that you are getting out in your (sounds like kick a$$) gladiator sandals :) that part made me smile a lot. I know I feel in a new functional fav.

    When I was pregnant and had high blood pressure and lots of swelling my natuaropathic doc said to go walk in water, about 12 inches of it. I was traveling the California coast with my 3 yr old 6 months along and took a 40 min walk every morning at the beach even as driving from relative to relative. Or even soaking in cold water helps along with drinking lots of it.

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  5. Books to charity? Mine never seem to leave... Oh, on occasion, but let's just say the majority I have gained, haven't left. Lovely photos, I think you have a great eye!

    Cat

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  6. So proud of you for doing all that walking...that's fantastic, and I know it has to be making you feel a bit better, mind and body. I wear a wide width shoe as well...always have, always will. No biggie! Glad you were able to get out and get some new shoes...you're sure going to need them w/ all that walking! :) And oh my goodness I absolutely ADORE wisteria. :)

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  7. The photos and their brief description makes me feel that I was really walking in this area. I particularly love the photo which shows the trunk of big tree.

    Thanks

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  8. oh you poor thing! gosh, you're gonna have to find some good sandals - beefy ones with tread for all the walking. Get a nice light cottony dress too. A free flowing one that you can just pull over and be comfortable. Something pretty and colorful though :-)
    Great pictures. Good job getting out to take them. The heat can be a challenge. I have to run in the morning and evening when its hot out. I swim during the day. A nice walk on a wet sandy beach would probably feel good too. Take your shoes off and walk in the water a little. Its awesome!!
    Have a super great day!

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  9. Loved the walk Bearfriend as always, and good on you, you've done well this week!!!. Such beautiful green countryside and lots of historical buildings.

    I can imagine the mid 20's would be hot as for you guys over there. Thats a lovely mild day for us, and we're having those temps here at the moment, tho its dam cold at night.

    Glad you got some more sandals and they sound comfy. I've got wide feet too, and take a size E width in joggers. Wide feet are from fathers side who are all large framed, big people. So I've nicknamed our wide feet...'shovels'! LOL!

    Sounds like you've got fluid retention which I also get if I spend hours on the computer, and take a week off work. Need to elevate them, hopefully they'll go down?

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  10. I really enjoyed your photographs and the description of your walk. Don't you live in pretty countryside! I admire the walks you take. You must really be in good shape. I don't think I could handle that many for that long. I must get me some of those gladiator sandals.

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  11. Beautiful photos!
    Ha, I remember my disappointment at the COLD temperatures when we came over for Hubby's cousin's wedding 3 summers ago - in JULY!
    70 degrees is barely tolerable for this TX girl.

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  12. Here's a link - I'm far from the technical sort so I hope it works!

    http://endurovet.blogspot.com/2007/07/minor-success-peran-zach-at-eden.html

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  13. As always, beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing, those trees are gorgeous!

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  14. Such lovely photos - thanks for sharing! :)

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  15. wow to me these photos are really really amazing ,lucky you dear you found beautiful places to walk around ,over here greenery is pretty less,thanks for lovely sharing dear take care

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  16. I am so envious of your walks. Thanks for writing about them so I can enjoy them vicariously! Keep it up!

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  17. can i come visit? joking of course but you do live in lovely surroundings. Sound like a broken record, yes.

    Glad you are getting out of the house friend.

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  18. Glad you made it out for your walk :) it has been really hot hasn't it which is great if your well equipped with clothes, im much the same as you and like to have something big over to cover me up but there is no hidding in the heat. lovely pics thanks for sharing x x x

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  19. You choose great places to walk. Loved the pictures. There's so much greenery.
    Smiles:)

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  20. I have to buy my shoes in Evans because I'm a UK size 10 wide... :o( (I guess it goes with the height territory!) I've recently discovered Birkenstocks and a 43 regular is PERFECT on me... They're not everyone's cup of tea, but once they're worn in, they're THE most comfortable sandals! I have the Gizehs in a magenta pink and love them to bits! :o)

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  21. What beautiful pictures, it must be so nice to walk around that neighborhood. So much to see, so many interesting things to look at.
    I hate the heat as well, so I'm impressed that have forced yourself to continue with your walks. Good for you. I'm especially glad you found a nice pair of comfortable sandals that you liked. That is not easy to do. I found a nice pair of Merrells and wore them out over 5 years. I finally found a replacement to cover my big bunion! LOL.
    I love when you share your photos, such a treat.
    XXXXXXX

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  22. Congrats on your awards. Just blog hopping. See ya some other days

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  23. I just love all the photo"s that you post! incredible!! Make the walks more interesting I'm sooo jealous!!
    I'm glad your up moving..it will make you feel so much better about everything!!

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  24. Oh how I love wisteria.
    Absolutely gorgeous.
    Hope the swelling has gone down in your feet. Having a problem with my ankles swelling slightly and socks lines appear when I take my socks off. sigh!
    My weight don't help either....big sigh!

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  25. hope n pray that you are doing ok dear god bless,

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  26. Missing you Bearfriend. Hope you are doing okay.

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  27. Hey Bearfriend -

    I know you're out there because I keep getting beautiful encouraging comments but haven't heard from you otherwise. How are you doing? Are you getting out? Has it cooled off?

    I absolutely hate the heat and can't wait for it to snow again. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy ;)

    Hope you are out and about and taking pictures of something pretty.

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