Be careful what you wish for

 Me - a few years ago ... "I wish it was warmer here in the summer"...

Well, I got my wish.  But I really should have qualified just how high I wanted the thermometer to go!  Oh boy it's been hot here. So hot that my friend who lives in Florida sent me a message to make sure we were all ok here.  On the day that she sent her message we had much higher temperatures than she did. We had a week of cooler, more comfortable days but the forecast is for the heatwave to return this week.

So on the hottest weekend of the year, my fridge freezer decided that it was time to call it a day.  It could not hold its temperature and I didn't trust it to keep as cold as it should. At first I put it down to the heat but then we wondered how old it was. We definitely had it already when we had our kitchen replaced and that was 10 years ago, then I found the instruction manual in a cupboard and I had written the date of purchase on it.  2010.  That makes it 16 years old and we have probably had our money's worth out of it. So last week involved online research and a couple of trips to stores to make a final decision.  The new one arrives this week so I just have to hope that the existing one limps along until then.  

This all happened after we had put in an order for a new bed mattress so it has been an expensive month already and it's still only the first week!  

Have I finished that crochet top?  Don't be silly!  It's been too hot to have crochet on your lap (my excuse) but I did do some at Knit and Natter.  I think I just have one more row of the bottom ribbing to do and then twenty million ends to weave in!

I became irresistible to some evil bitey insects last weekend.  The bites were SO annoying.  One was behind my knee and it was impossible not to aggravate it as I walked during the day not to mention wearing leggings for my zumba class.  There were a couple of nights when I found myself making a cold wet flannel to lay over it while I tried to get to sleep.  I don't want to tempt fate but ... they seem to have gone.  We went to friends for a meal on Saturday and I just knew that we would be sitting outside as it was a glorious evening.  I wore long flowing cotton trousers and a lot of insect repellent (probably overpowered my perfume!) and I came home unscathed!

We went for a lovely long walk on Saturday.  Even though it was sunny we were able to find shade along the way.  I feel lucky to have such countryside so close to our home.  

Does anyone have ideas for tasty, easy and light summer meals that I can do for a change?  I feel like we are in a rut and I'm fed up with the salads that I tend to make.  Every day I dread the 'What are we having for dinner tonight?' questions!  Tomorrow is crab linguine and we always seem to have teriyaki salmon on a Tuesday but any suggestions for Wednesday onwards will be gratefully received!

Have a good week x