Saturday, August 28, 2010

Cooling those parts that need cooling.



Another scorcher of a day with the temperatures soaring above 45 degrees - that's nudging 120 in old money. Not pleasant . I've only experienced heat like this once before and that was in Saudi Arabia in mid-summer. Wilf was up and out at six , in the semi-darkness, to position himself on his back on the cold gravel of the courtyard. Sensible fellow. The perfect time and place to cool off those parts that need to be cooled off. The intense heat has brought on a bout of paw licking so a soothing ten minute foot soak in a bath with two inches of cold water was in order.

It's just as well we were up early. Madame Bay deigned to arrive, unannounced, a little after seven - an hour ahead of schedule. The perfect time to join us for a cup of coffee and have a 'wee' blether. To cope with the heat Madame Bay was wrapped in what appeared to be a 'Lady of the Lake' outfit made out of yards and yards of white net curtain material. Above it all sat a turban made from the same diaphonous fabric. It was rather like breakfasting with a cross between a well fed and cocooned Gandhi and a wraith. It seems that the 'adorable' young locum has returned to Toulouse so Madame Bay's health has reverted to its usual state - robust. I couldn't help but think that Monsieur Bay must be mightily relieved now that the cause of his wifes amatory fever has departed.


On our heat abbreviated morning walk down the lane a stranger in a white van stopped, rolled down the window and said ' Glad I'm not wearing a fur coat in this weather'. I looked blankly at him. He pointed at Wilf. "Ah, yes" I said . He chuckled. I chuckled. And then he drove off. Another sign that when it comes to dogs the French forget their aloofness.

Congratulations to the Four Seasons Resort Hotel in Vail . Here we are still in August and already they've sent out the first unsolicited e-mail of the year offering Christmas vacation packages . A picture showing snow and offering a 'Ski Free' tariff ! Where do I sign up ?

16 comments:

  1. You have to get cool breezes to all parts of the body.

    Happy to hear Madame Bay has returned.

    Our ski fields are recording bumper snow falls this year. Think we're in for the hot summer.

    XXXOOO Daisy, kendra & Bella

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  2. People say the most ridiculous things when trying to make small talk. I bet Wilf would have liked to give him the finger. :)

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  3. I think a fan would help too! What a character this Madame Bay seems to be!

    Sam

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  4. Dat kind of heat is not good fur anybody. Paws crossed for cooler temperatures to arrive at your house soon.

    WOofs and Licks,
    Maggie Mae

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  5. So apparently you are now living on the surface of the sun. Cannot imagine that kind of heat, even after weeks in South Carolina with the temperature hovering in the low 100's. Please say it is at least a dry, rather than humid heat? In this heat, does Wilf ever plunge himself (and not just his toy) into the swimming pool? It's going to be warm here tomorrow (95) and I know Petey will melt like butter on a pancake onto the cool marble floor in the lobby of our apartment building.

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  6. I, too, have a wonderful person in my life who cleans our house (she's been doing so for 10 years). She doesn't dress anywhere near as dramatically as Madame Bay but she shows up at unexpected hours and amuses me endlessly with talk. She believes that the date and time that you were born determines the path of your life. Moreover, my husband and I share important astrological signs with the US President and his wife - so she has now decided that we are destined for great things... In any case, I think of her every time that you write about Madame Bay even if she doesn't make for such colorful blog posts!

    Believe it or not, Wilf's fur might actually help keep him cool. I read a study showing that a dog's skin temperature isn't affected by the air temperature very fast due to fur. In contrast, we furless humans immediately feel the heat in the air! That's your boring but unexpected fact for the day...

    Can you tell that I was trained as a scientist? That's part of why the astrological stuff makes me smile so much.

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  7. BTW, I cannot even imagine living in 120 degree heat. I hope it breaks soon!

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  8. wilf thanks you for taking these pictures from the more modest angle. ;)
    hope that heat ends very soon!

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  9. well..the Donnington Park Country Club can beat your ski resort by months!!! We recieved our 'festive menu' in June.....how sad is that? needless to say it was promptly recycled....120 degrees...whew...thank goodness for british rain!! x

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  10. Did Wilf offer to christen the man's tire or shoe after that stupid comment? I'd have let him!

    I can see why places like that get booked way in advance, especially after such a scorcher of a summer. It seems like it's been hotter than usual everywhere. I do not envy you 120 degrees even a little bit!

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  11. I almost wish you would post a picture of Madame Bay sometime. But then she probably wouldn't look anything like I imagine her to and it might spoil the image I have of her in my head. Which is surely more amusing than what she must look like in real life with those crazy outfits.

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  12. Wow, what heat. Wilf has the absolute right idea.

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  13. We so feel for you, Wilf! 120 degrees is just not tolerable! We're sending lots of cooling breezes your way!

    Love ya lots
    Maggie and Mitch

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  14. You are darling Wilf - Love these photos :)

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  15. hahameow...a cocooned Gandhi! My grandparents were British and they drank hot tea, with milk of course, but they told me when I was little that to drink something hot when it is hot outside makes you perspire and then cool off...I am never quite sure I ever felt that, though.

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  16. Salut from a fellow Scot!

    I did detect a certain tendency towards swathing and turbans when we were in France this summer. Somehow the French manage to carry it off.

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