Monday 15 May 2017

Fun in the sun, but not if you live in Dubai.

For the next 5 weeks there will be endless updates about just how hot it is here in Dubai. Screen shots of the temperature on my phone, thermometer readings of the cold water tap and the sea temperature and just non stop moaning about it.

Why only 5 weeks? summer lasts till the end of September. But the end of June sees me packing my suitcase and flying off to escape the harsh summer for the cooler climate of the UK.

Think summer and think 2 weeks in Spain, Italy, Turkey etc and if you have a bit more money going spare, then you may venture out to the Middle East.

As a Brit, born and bred, I think of summer as temperatures up to 28c for 2-3 days in a row, in reality, it may rain and there's no guarantee summer will be in July and August as it often favours April and September and temperatures are often much lower.

2 weeks in the sun for anyone from a cooler climate sounds bloody great, hotel, drinks by the pool, on the beach, air con, and chilling out. Bring it on. No work, no stress, just rest and relaxation.

Now add 10c to your ideal temperature, go to work, cook dinner, wash up, hang your washing outside, walk your dog and watch the temperatures get higher.

Sit on the beach in the shade and realise there is no temperature difference, take a dip in the sea to cool off and discover the sea temp is the same as the air and it's like getting in a hot bath.

Come home from the beach and not be able to shower until after sunset as the water in the cold water tap is 42c and burns your skin. Try washing up and you have to wear rubber gloves, which have usually perished under the sink, due to the temperature. You can no longer 'wash your clothes at 30c'

Fill bottles with water and leave them to cool under the air con before you can water your plants. Put up with a smelly dog all summer because you keep forgetting to fill a large tub with water to cool down over night and if you use the water from the hose pipe, you'll scold them.

Assume said air con is working and not cutting out due to being over used and waiting 2 days before someone can come out and a further 2 days for them to find the part. Get used to the noise and dig the blankets out to put on the leather sofas to stop you sticking to them in the heat. Get your socks out to stop your feet getting cold, but take your socks off when you open the door to let the cat in/out and watch AED 100 of air con escape every time you do.

Then reply to endless comments on social media from people saying 'I'd love some some hot weather' 'You're so lucky to live in the sun' knowing that everyone assumes you're just showing off because you have a summer and they don't.

Just remember I'm not on holiday I have to live here, I'm stuck indoors everyday, the same way you are when winter comes and I have to put up with comments on how cold it is and I reply with 'I'd love some of that cold right now, want to swop?'

The dream: spending endless days on the beach.
 The reality: sand is too hot to walk on and sea is like a hot bath.

Getting up mega early to walk the dog as by 8.30am the pavements are too hot to walk on.

Returning to your car after a visit to the mall. I've recorded temps up to 57c in the height of summer.

 Burning your hand when you open the door as it's quite literally 'too hot to handle'

Shower before 8am or after 9pm when the water from the cold tap doesn't scold you.

Have you lived in a hot climate? 
Do you live where the temperatures are below 0c most of the year?
How do you cope with such extreme temperatures? Any tips you can share?




20 comments:

  1. It sounds awful - and not until you point out all the things that we take for granted, cool water from the tap, washing at 30 deg, watering the plants, and the worse thing for me would being stuck indoors purely because of the heat - it really does not sound much fun at all - here we are all craving a bit of summer and some heat - you must dread summer coming.

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    1. can't wit till my uk trip next month and escape this oppressive heat

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  2. That's too hot for me. I think it's harder to cool down sometimes that warm up if it's too cold. #triumphanttales

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    1. we've experienced both extreme cold and hot and i don't really like either, but I think it is easier to warm up than to cool down

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  3. That sounds like hell. I hate hot weather. 21 degrees is warm enough for me. I could never live in a hot country

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    1. i really appreciate the uk weather now i don't live there

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  4. Oh, gee! We live in the Central United States where there are four distinct seasons. Any of them can be harsh (or mild). I'm not a fan of extreme temperatures in either direction! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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    1. we have 3 seasons here, hot, hotter and give up

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  5. 'Forgot to mention I am hopping over from the Post Comment Love party! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  6. I've got a friend in our Dubai office and she says the same. I feel so bad moaning about weather to her now :(

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    1. you'll often find me putting extra clothing on when i'm indoors though as the aircon in the malls is often too cold

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  7. I remember my parents going to Egypt a few years back at a heatwave in August and even the locals were moaning about the heat.
    We can barely stand Greece in May let alone Dubai heat. I feel for you, I really do!
    Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!

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    1. we did Egypt in May and Death Valley in August and nearly died from the heat and we were only on holiday, experiencing it is one thing but living in it is unbearable

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  8. Goodness. Scolding water out of the cold tap. That does put it in perspective. At least you can escape. #PoCoLo

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    1. Hubby has to stay here all year with work, at least by me going to the uk he doesn't have to listen to me moaning about it

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  9. I couldn't cope in that heat. I was in Greece one year at the start of a heat wave, I think it got up to 38 degrees before I left, it was at this point I was ready to go home, luckily for me I did as it got up to 42! Phew! Thank you for linking up to #TriumphantTales, hope to see you again on Tuesday :)

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    1. thankfully i will be in the UK for the summer so only a few weeks left to get through now

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  10. I don't think I could cope with the constant heat, my body runs hot anyway so when it's super hot here (rarely thankfully) I don't cope well. We all think it'll be nice to have some sun - and it is - but just the right amount! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo

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    Replies
    1. I'm not coping too well, still getting things done and choosing be outdoors when ever possible, before i get to cabin fever season

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    2. I guess that's a side of living in the heat most people don't see, or contemplate. Good luck x

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