Cloudy

We haven't been covered by Saharan dust clouds today but something worse, a dense cloud of smoke from the wildfires near Athens.  

The midday sun should be blazing bright and burning in these 2 photos.  I think they say the sun still burns on days like this, whether it's natural cloud or a cloud of smoke or dust.

You just don't feel the burn till it's too late

    Evening gloom at midday

Photos by Poppi

During July and August the roads around us are closed off in the evening and no-one besides residents should be driving around and then only to and fro from home.

 

 Except those going up to eat at Paradise taverna. 

 Smaller roads going into the pine forest are closed with barriers.  

The Navy school, council workers. fire brigade and volunteers patrol all night, and during the day are on fire alert. 

Dozens of houses in areas around Athens have been destroyed. 

 We haven't had a big fire here for some years.  I hope it stays that way for many more years.  Our house is on a dead-end lane.  We could easily be caught like rats in a trap.

Very high temperatures and strong meltemi winds are predicted again for this weekend .  Strong winds fan flames and so many of these out lying areas are  surrounded by pine forests.  Exploding pine cones can carry fire for many metres, across roads and into new areas of dry grass and scrub.

Besides drinking lots of water, keeping cool and looking after the elderly there are all sorts of other instructions popping up.

- Water your garden in the morning not in the evening.  Though this seems to be so you won't disturb the mosquitoes who might have bedded down for a nap.

- Fill up your car after dark.  This is too avoid handling flammable liquids during hours of high temperatures

- Keep shutters closed to keep out sunlight.  I do that and our bedroom is much cooler than the rest of the house where there are no shutters.

- Have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin.  K does this, running under our outdoor shower at regular intervals.  I put my head under the hosepipe today.  It felt marvellous.  I should have thought of it before.  It's all very well for K wearing only a pair of shorts to stand under the shower and then drip dry.  It would mean a change of outfits for me.  Too much trouble

  

What really makes a difference to summer life is getting up early, before the real heat begins, to cook and do any absolutely necessary housework.  I can remember when we lived in an apartment in Piraeus I used to mop the floors at 2 oclock in the morning.  Marble floors, which were always deliciously cold.  I often slept on those marble tiles with only a sheet under me and a pillow for my head.  But then I could sleep anywhere without any trouble.