FWIW, all three contractors I approached for quotes, including the one we used at work, insisted on a separate 20A or 32A circuit and an outside cutoff switch (one of those chunky yellow and red ones). None of them would do that work and either subcontracted it, or advised me to get a local electrician to do it. I won't lie, it put me off big time. 

My portable draws 1.6kW at the plug, but it's a powerful beast and delivers 4kW of cooling. I had to go up to a 14000BTU unit as the 8000 and 9000 ones I had before were struggling with the 35+ temperatures that my bedroom gets to in summer!

Thank you - I've never had a dog until a couple of months ago, at which point I acquired a Great Dane pup. I don't feel as strongly for him as I did with Nuka, but hopefully the bond will grow over time.

I'd agree that 23 is an ideal summer temperature - warm enough for people to do anything outside, but not so warm as to cause 30+ indoors (and the sleepless nights that come with it). 

I think the big problem is actually that people still don't take summer seriously in the UK. Look at how many sunburnt bare-chested men you see every summer, for example, too macho or too thick to use suncream. It'll be a similar thing with managing airflow in a house - again, it's something people in the Med do, no need for that here (or so they'd say).

In reality when you live in a bungalow with a shed on the roof, as I do, it's Hobson's choice in summer. Either keep the windows closed and endure 35C+ indoors, or open them and have whatever the outside is, plus a degree or two. Either way when it's in the high 20s or more it's a nightmare - hence the need for aircon, in my case a portable. The only other option would be to abandon upstairs during the summer and sleep downstairs instead. 

One trick I learned a few years ago, as I get up so early, is to open a window in my living room first thing. I then open the french windows at the other end of the room, plonk a fan on the patio, and have it blowing into the living room. That generally cools things down to within 5 degrees of the outside temperature, a boon at this time of year (when it was 26 in there first thing today). After reaching that 5 degree level, it's a case of windows closed and curtains drawn, so the sun can't heat up the room. My house does, however, have large windows. You don't see those on many newbuilds - presumably as they let in so much heat or because they cost so much, I'm not sure which!

Well put. I didn't think of the Continental home cooling method till a few years ago in the first really high temperatures. I came to it from the point of view of a mixture of science and common sense - both of which seem severely lacking with much of the public these days. But in fairness not everybody has an accurate outdoor  or indoor thermometer. We do and the system is close all curtains and blinds at the time of day they get sun on them. Keep all windows and doors closed from first thing and don't open them till the temperature is almost the same inside and out or within a degree then open them to create an evening breeze through the house. Luckily we have a north facing lounge but I am constantly nagging my wife to keep the door closed as the hall and porch can't be shielded from the sun and are a big heat source. This method keeps the living room at about 4-5C below the outside temperature at least.

Yes, I just posted our similar technique before reading this. Ours is what is called a chalet-bungalow which is probably a bit like yours. Mostly roof with dormer windows. The advantage is a massive loft space which you can stroll around in upright although not now because it is about 45C!

In reality,  it was over 36C the entire 12 days, and close to 40c most days,  41C on two days.  It was not comfortable in the slightest.  Air conditioning is the only solution when it is that hot. 

Florence is a ridiculously hot place because of it's geography and will only get worse.  It's 34C there at 10.20 this morning. 

A completely different approach to Jiries then. 

Yes, it's been drier than average. But not hugely so (East Midlands been proportionately drier)

Lake District been distinctly wet (in terms of total rainfall), which is good for the reservoirs.

MBY had average total rainfall, very slightly above average number of days rain, average sunshine... and mean temp around 2.5c above average

Total Rainfall - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/anomacts/2025/6/2025_6_Rainfall_Anomaly_1961-1990.gif

Days of any rain - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/anomacts/2025/6/2025_6_RainDays02_Anomaly_1961-1990.gif

Lies, damned lies and statistics! 26 of the 41mm that fell here was in a single storm, for example.

On air-conditioning, we installed these units in 2 bedrooms. They are superb. They're on their own circuit. 

https://www.daikin.co.uk/en_gb/residential/products-and-advice/product-categories/air-conditioners/stylish.html 

Mine looks the same. Have you got just one compressor or did you have to have one for each unit?

Yes - several reasons for that. Those of us with the really low rainfall are sometimes classed as East of England. The S.E encompasses a large area south of London and West of London down through Sussex, Surrey. They typically get much more rainfall than Essex which has always been the driest County as it fizzles out as it moves West. Also there were a lot of downpours that some will have missed completely but will have boosted the average considerably. In my case quite a bit of the total has been several days like today with amounts of less than 2mm (1.5mm today) which basically goes as soon as it touches the ground, especially in these temperatures. Mean here was 25C for the whole of June. Not seen anybody quote less than my 196mm YTD figure.

One compressor. 

190mm here YTD. The Sheppey Shield is doing its job perfectly (in conjunction with the "squeegee" North Downs - there's been more in the way of SW'lies this summer than is the norm). 

Saw Matt Hugo post that his location in the Western Pennines had 160% of normal of the June rainfall at 128mm. A different world!

We try most of these too Darren. I also tried (to my wife's great amusement, until it kind of worked) hosing the sun side of the house- walls and the part of the roof that the hose would reach, while it was still sunny and a fair breeze was blowing. The illuminated ceiling thermometer projection- which I could see since the curtains were pulled- dropped a meagre (but noticeable) two degrees after about an hour and a half. Nowhere near as effective as circulating when it's cool. Sadly it went up again after everything dried off and added a fair few pence to my meter bill. 

Need permeable terracotta walls with the cavities filled with wine I think.

Edit: I've no scientific evidence that it wasn't going to cool temporarily anyway.

206mm for Bramham

Since planting my vineyard in 2022 my attitude to summer and autumn weather (and spring weather) has changed substantially. I want a wet winter to recharge soil moisture, a cold late winter to inhibit early budburst, then a mild cloudy spring to avoid late frost, followed by hot sunny dry weather from mid May to mid October. The hotter drier and sunnier the better.

So far this season has been exceptional, aside from too many clear nights and late frosts in May. I am now at least 40 growing degree days ahead of the same date in my previously warmest season to date, 2022. Fingers crossed it continues this way. 

As with the snow in winter, our main chance of significant precipitation these days comes from the S.E like from between Paris or Brussels where there is not time for it to dissipate and maybe pep up a bit with the short sea crossing. But these events are rare.

When I look at the radar I notice you often miss rain passing East of you as well. I always seem to find the gap between East London and Southend to the East which is hard to figure geographically.

If I keep my rain shield in place do I get a free bottle of wine? 😀

So the low rainfall figures are somewhat more widespread than I thought. Why is it rarely mentioned by the TV presenters?

Yes, I'd like to taste Tim's wine.  I used to do a teenage summer job at Denbies vineyard in Dorking, Surrey.  Back in the 90s English wine was still laughed at, but now I think its as good as what the frogs make

My wife had some Hattingley sparkling wine the other week and said it tasted as good as top quality French champagne. £36 a bottle

Either they're ignorant/complacent (quite likely tbh) or in the 'don't mention you know what, you might scare the children' camp?

The figure I see (places with just ~200mm rain this year) are just extraordinary. If my part of Dartmoor (we've had around 600mm) had only that much it would be dust and everything bar trees brown. It just shows that, in some ways, it's not the amount of rain that matters so much as the anomaly and underlying geology. That or places with only 200 mm this year are in more serious trouble than it seems.

Interestingly, 'off field' straw prices are very high (harvest is early). We will see how cereal yields pan out, they will show how serious the effects are.

I’m still pre-production: first commercial harvest this year, first still wine available 2026 and sparkling 2027 or 8. I took a small harvest last autumn and made some wine for home consumption but only about 60l.

I’m making blanc de noirs and rose de noirs sparkling from Pinot noir and Pinot meunier, and still white from Melon de Bourgogne. 

Http://www.littlebursted.com 

241 mm of rain here so far this year so on the dry side but not extremely.