Bearing Up

Walked to Eucharist at midday, which might have been a mistake... felt quite ill for a while. My neighbour insisted I use her fan; looked around and saw how all the ladies were doing it, with a minimal flick of the wrist. Mid-forties again, but the difference to the USA and other places is that nowhere has air-con, and even when they do, they don't use it - just like heating in the winter. You have to admire their fortitude; the question is, why? Habit, economy, ecology, health??

Met Mike at the Adega, for our usual lunch there, of a couple of glasses of his (new this year, a good white) wine, and the free tidbits on the bar. That's the owner with his hand on the door, and the air con behind him, not on, though even the stone floor was hot to the touch.

The couple nearer me, Z and V, couldn't believe that was our lunch and insisted (so much that it felt rude to refuse) that we join them for their lunch - octopus salad, chickpea and cod salad, friar bean and tuna salad, and good ol' Alentejano bread. 

And now off for another meal at C and E's... Almost 8pm, and still 42°C, with a wind like a hair dryer on its hottest setting.