The unintentional wildlife garden next door looks to be producing a bumper crop of blackberries this year.

Status:

Heatwave day four, and we’re over the worst of it. At around 3pm I realised it was the warmest it was going to be for the next 10 days, according to the forecast, and a lovely breeze started. The house is still too hot, thanks to the bricks holding the heat like they’re designed to, but that should dissipate soon. Meanwhile we’re in the garden.

Personally I feel great, which might seem odd while everyone is melting into apathy and frustration. But as I noted during the May heatwave, this is perfect for my chronic fatigue pacing. The climate is preventing me from anything and so my mind and body haven’t had a chance to get exhausted for four whole days. Now the temperatures are receding I feel like I’m fully restored and ready for anything!

Of course I’m not and have to be really careful this weekend, but it’s so lovely to have that sensation for the first time in such a long time.

Hogwatching:

Looking after the hedgehogs in our back garden ‌(5:45) — Because we’re outside late in the evening we’re crossing over with when the hedgehog is about, sometimes more closely than we realise. Check the timestamps.

Reading:

No commentary on these today I’m afraid.

• Just Two Things on Grenfell and David Hockney
• Heat, humidity and housing: why British heatwaves hit differently
• If you aren’t terrified by this heatwave, you should be
• How Paris is harnessing the Seine to replace air-con
• Paul Watson’s Month notes: June 2026
• Shower beers

Listening:

• Origin Story: Think Tanks part 2 — Starts with a takedown of the pernicious Tufton Street arseholes, gets that out of the way and then settles into a fairly optimistic survey of how useful it is to have bodies that can get policies and legislations drafted for governments that are basically firefighting once they’re in office and don’t have time to think. Just keep the far right libertarian oil money out of it.