I did something today that I’ve never done before. I was out running an errand at lunchtime with the roof off. When I got back in the car – I closed the roof and put the aircon on.  That never happens unless it is actually raining. I was wondering what was wrong with me (apart from a boiled bottom and scorched thighs from the leather seats) until I looked at the temperature. Ok car temperature guages are always a litte off – but given that it read 103 degrees I think we can safely say that it was scorchio.

Actually it has been great to have a summer for a change. Yes it does get muggy and there’s the odd monsoon but on the whole it has been warm/ hot and sunny fairly reliably. So much so I bought a BBQ this weekend. Before you ask – not one of the gas powered* oh the horror* monstrosities that basically are your kitchen hob only outdoors. I bought another one of those pleasingly plump Webers. Now if I could only find some halloumi in this cheese deprived country I coul dmake my favourite kebabs.

Something that irritates me on a daily basis is the loos here. Firstly, the fact that they are known as restrooms is plain ridiculous (the LAST  thing you’re going to want to do in there is hang around or rest).

The other thing that I dislike intensly about pulic toilets is the big gaps around the doors. Firsly the cubicles themselves are at least a foot off the ground. Then you have approximately a 1cm gap all the way around the doors. So you are sat there and you can see people walking past. Not good. I understand that in railway stations, bars and clubs etc you are going to want to discourage drug taking and other dodginess, but what’s the excuse at the office?

To make matters worse, despite the lack of privacy – the normally very prudish Yanks  have no problems with holding telephone conversations whilst sat in their non-private traps. They talk through the flush and everything! Just. so. Wrong.