Heat Wave to Heaven

Well well, the short heat wave was hot alright! Even the lying beeb got the forecast right. A wonderful wander up and along the ridge between Weardale and Teesdale towards Wolsingham seemed a good way to pass the day, which indeed it was ... heavenly in fact. Full Sun most of Wednesday, with shorts and sandals only after the hour or so climbing up to the Elephant Trees, and no human beings to disturb the tranquillity until the descent into Wolsingham four hours later, and coffee. A message requesting assistance with the unanticipated arrival of a sick Grandchild was tricky, but a swift return along the valley footpath meant a fun afternoon walk with Dan, in need of exercise, fresh air and Sun to help him recover from his malady. It's well known that modern medicine is often more likely to make you sick than healthy, not to mention eating good food and drinking pure fluids, so Nature's Remedy helped cure him, despite his insistence that he really felt sick and might benefit from a second day off, this time with his other Granny. His younger brother seems to have missed the extra holidays, but at his age school is sometimes fun and teachers like to take the pupils outside in the Sun for fun and games of football. Teachers, of course, also like to play outside in the Sun, so it's win win all round!

Yesterday saw rain, some heavy, which was good to green up the scenery and help the fish wishing to spawn in a few weeks. The forecast for the weekend is fair, and some Sun, some showers today. Stanhope Show is always best with sunshine, though the stallholders in the marquees prefer showers, since it gets too hot inside for them and the punters.

This morning's early walk was still warm and sunny as the heat wave turns into a warm wave, with thunderstorms later. Imagine my delight, dear reader, to meet an old friend from the medical profession, early retired and having earnt extra on piece work, injecting mug punters with drugs with serious side-effects, and dubious ingredients. Of course, your old blogger is no expert in anything at all, and listened carefully to his answers. We disagreed on the lethal nature of the jabs, and the wisdom of inserting them into the bloodstreams of humans; but we agreed on the danger of trusting politicians or drug companies, long known for bribing or "influencing" those susceptible to earning a few bob extra to do their dirty work.

A bargain book from the charity shop, an illustrated history of the Civil War in the USA, only just small enough to fit in the rucksack, now joins the rest of the essential reading for a would-be polymath with a curious mind. Or any would-be historians like Dan, of course!

Time to clean the house a bit, since a new would-be Buddhist may turn up to read some books later today or tomorrow for the Show; the big event of the year in Stanhope in Weardale, by the River Wear, making its way from the hills near Wearhead to the North Sea at Wearmouth, via Bishop Auckland, Durham City and Sunderland.