Surviving the heatwave.

We’ve had four successive days over 40°C and almost reached the predicted 44°C yesterday and the day before. To survive the heatwave, we’ve retreated to the only room in the house with aircon, the kitchen. The downstairs room, immediately below the kitchen, is also reasonably cool and benefits from a steady stream of cold air seeping down the stairs. The rest of the house is like an oven, especially at night, and the hallway thermometer shows 35°C well into the night. We keep doors closed to seal off the rest of the house. I’m back to sleeping in the kitchen and Ben sleeps downstairs with the TV, PS3 and Babar. Like us, Jazz has found her own cool spots and, while she likes her rug soaked with water, she hates being sprayed with a hose. Two magpies have taken ownership of a water container placed under the trees in the yard. While we cope with the weather, another story unfolds as Ben’s grandfather, almost 100 years old, is hospitalised and the doctors want to discontinue treatment. For years, family members have provided total care for him at home in Springvale and they’d like him to get some basic treatment so he can return home for a while. The doctors and social worker have another meeting with the family today. His wife and seven or eight of his nine children will be attending. At least the hospital is comfortable and, we’re told, a cool change is on the way.