So is it hot enough for you today? Anyone that says in doesn't get hot in Normandy and the Pays de la Loire is obviously mad

It's hot in the Languedoc, but, surprisingly, we aren't included in the "Alerte-Canicule" départements. It's actually relatively cool at night, which helps...

Hints to relative newcomers who aren't used to heat-waves - close your windows and shutters during the day, stay indoors in the relative cool, open your shutters and all windows at sundown, and keep the upstairs windows open all night.

Well here in Provence we are not on alert - we are supposed to be used to it and it does seem that our temperatures are not quite as high as the rest of the country.

I shall be on alert next Wednesday when we are due to go to Orange for the Choregies - Carmen this time. We are due 40C. OK it starts at 9.00pm but we have to get there first, eat beforehand and then sit in incredible discomfort for the next 3 hours in the Roman theatre which just radiates heat.

Poor us - why do we inflict it on ourselves? Especially as we won't get home until 2.00am. Because it is one of the most magical experiences in the world and , as this might be our last time, after 20 years we just have to go.

Wish us luck!

Baking here, 40+ yesterday. Already boiling today. I have to have the shutters closed in my office.

Good advice about the shutters and windows. However beware, we left the windows open once and a friendly bat flew in, buzzing us for ages until we found the courage to try and get him out

It's even hot in the UK!

I hope people know how to 'coffrer' their shutters, which allows a little air to circulate between the window and the inside of the shutter - a short of primitive but effective fan system.

PS GB, have a wonderful evening! I must say I don't envy you the heat and the discomfort bit, but the rest...

It happens to us all the time and not just bats either! Our bedroom is on the second floor in an old silkwormery.It has very very high, beamed ceilings and the room and the adjoining dressing room are ridiculously large. With windows in both rooms, opposite each other and a door we leave open to catch the air currents, the critters fly in one and out through the other.

The bats used to bother me a lot but, as they are not vampires, I stopped worrying and no longer lock myself in the bathroom! The pigeons are a nuisance because they perch on things and the inevitable happens. Swifts (their nesting holes are in the eves) just fly through and the hoopoe and owls tend not to come right in.

It seems to take ages every night and morning to rearrange windows, shutters and fans in order to maximise the cool air but it has to be done.

We too had a very unwelcome old bat fly in unannounced a short time ago.
The bloomin' mother-in-law.........

We unfortunately do not have the comfort of opening our windows without experiencing a terrible pong and flies. Today, our thoughtfull neighbouring farmer is spreading tons of bouse de vache (there is another name for it which escapes me).
I understand it is mandatory that after spreading this must be followed immediately by ploughing.
This never happens. Our farmer is also monsieur le maire.

We have casement type shutters and I just use the shutter locks to hold them slightly ajar. Is there more to it than that?

No, that's it! I guess that the term coffrer would be translated as 'box', so that the edges of the shutters make an angle with each other like the corners of a box.
just a guess

Some of our shutters have louvres -ie slatted bottom halves, as has been said we just latch them during the day - there are two positions, one a bit more open than the other. Of course you also need hooks in the wall to prevent the Mistral removing open shutters!

Thanks Blackie

Another hot day today...I have had an eldeerly someone change a booking to next week because of travelling in the heat.
It hit 41 C last week and the humidity made it even worse.
We just switch the air conditioning on...