POST BEGUN FRIDAY 26 JUN 2026 AT 1011HRS BST

 

Yes. It is hot and humid. Even up here in NE Scotland. Yes. We are uncomfortable - the fans are keeping it merely 'uncomfortable' as opposed to the 'unbearable' it was before we fetched the fans down and turned them on. PS - a neatly planned combination of cross-breeze opened windows and the oscillating fan works a treat to cool living room, kitchen, bedroom (aka Paul's study). The stationary rechargeable wall mount fans in the hall and bathroom not so much so I'll be replacing those when I can find oscillating rechargeable ones on Amazon (out of stock, no surprise considering the sweltering temps Down South). 

 

We're managing, the cat has even worked out where to lie on the sofa so as to enjoy the fan-generated cooling breeze. Health wise it's not the greatest but such is life.

 

Speaking of health, we went for vision and hearing checks last week. Paul needed hearing aids and multifocals prescriptions (and he ain't happy, putting it mildly), I needed a new eye multifocal prescription to include ultra-polarised sunglasses - the ophthalmologist breezily informed me I have 'early signs of cataracts in both eyes'. WOT?! I was SO not expecting that! Any road, I am now the reluctant owner of four very wide brim hats and the prescription glasses including the sunnies will be here next week. sigh   

 

No matter the weather, I do have to remind Paul he is 68, not 48...

 

Paul is on his semi-annual 'clearing out frenzy' aka COF, it is going reasonably well EXCEPT I now have had to buy a new stainless steel frying and saucepan after discovering he took my hideously expensive 25pc (plus the fitted lids, dammit) gourmet quality professional stainless steel set to the charity shop. His justification was 'You don't use the hob as often as you used to'. EXCUSE ME??!! How in the hell does he think his meals are cooked?!

 

Somehow miraculously (because I'd stored it out of his COF view) my medium size stockpot is still with me - prefect for making all sorts including potatoes, boiled eggs, soups and pasta. I always stored the lids with my cookware so the stockpot and its lid are still together in my kitchen and now the cabinet they are kept in has a huge sticker on the door warning of GBH if used/taken without written authorisation from THE CHIEF COOK AND BOTTLE WASHER (me).

 

Once I regained emotional control (two full tissue boxes later) I hit the AmazonUK cookware pages. Even at Prime Days prices replacing that set would be close to £900 and the 'good quality but not as good as the bloody set he gave away' set £400...

 

I reassessed my cooktop needs. 

 

This morning for £30 I ordered a 10in stainless steel and an 8in saucepan (triple clad and a name brand I know and trust). Thank-you AmazonUK Prime Days.