Ice in the rosé

... is de rigueur in this weather. S put the thermometer on the bench  outside the house in the shade this afternoon ... 38C.

You'll detect that yet again I haven't been far from home today. I did go to Ferrals in the morning to collect my next book group read -- the big blue slab on the right. Luckily I have until September to read it. I want to finish The Corner That Held Them first though -- a truly original novel with no plot and no protagonist. Happily, I was halfway through it when the Backlisted podcast did an episode on it, which I listened to yesterday -- really interesting. The ultimate Marxist workplace novel, if your workplace is a medieval convent!

While I was doing that, S called our insurance about the Fiat. The breakdown guy turned up very promptly, and swiftly diagnosed a dead battery, probably due to the heat. He jump started it and S drove to the local garage and got a new battery. Job done.

In other news, it turns out that yesterday's firestarter was a market trader who sells grilled meats at markets. He was heading home from the coast, having apparently not checked that he'd doused the coals before setting off. I ask you. The firefighters are still on standby, and the fire kicked off again this afternoon.

Apero this evening featured chilled rosé, of course, and the last of yesterday's salmorejo, served in shot glasses. Very summery. In that spirit, I've been filling my diary with summer events. Lots coming up! Not least the opening of the municipal swimming pool tomorrow!