Baked Volunteer
I know I probably wittered on ad nauseam last year about the temperature and how unbearable it is at the moment; however that was last year, and it is just becoming apparent to me how forebearing I was in not simply installing a thermometer in my office and posting hourly updates as the mercury raced to the top and exploded out into space.
I’ve checked the internet, as I’m certain that it must be approximately 38 degrees outside, but all the interweb sites say its only 33. I know this to be a fallacy however, because I have experienced those kinds of temperatures, and it is much hotter than that here, today, even inside my office. Stepping outside is like stepping into the firing line of a giant hairdryer.
Whenever anyone gets in the company shit-mobile to go and run an errand in town it becomes instantly apparent that all the oxygen in the car has been replaced with an atmosphere similar to that which exists on the surface of the sun. To be honest, though, the car is a welcome change from the office, because there is no fan or airconditioning in here, and at least when I’m driving I can stick my head out of the window and let the breeze cool my damp follicles.
Getting on the saddle of my bike is physically painful, because even if I move it into the shade it takes about two minutes for the black plastic saddle to absorb all the heat around it. As soon as i sit on it, my arse instantly produces a gallon of sweat, all by itself. That, by the way, almost rivals the amount of sweat that my forehead and neck are sending off into the world, mostly via my ears, and cleavage (such as it is).
It hasn’t rained for days, and so just keeps getting hotter. The sky is so blue it could tip you into insanity, and everything seems impossibly, unrelentingly bright and colourful; I look at photos of home with a sense of unreality, and nervousness, not because it looks cold – that I would welcome – but because it looks so grey.
Anyway, I now remember why the entire population of Windhoek ups sticks and repairs to the coast for a month around now. As for myself, I can’t wait to get on that bus on Friday evening, and start whinging about the airconditioning, and my lack of warm socks. It will make a nice change.
December 13th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
In the last 10 years or so, all offices have got air conditioning here (even in the government!) – yeah, bad for the environment but it makes working so much more manageable
December 14th, 2006 at 8:28 am
God, you’re so lucky. Even a fan would be welcome, but I’m not allowed one because I haven’t raised enough money to pay for one. Pah.
December 15th, 2006 at 6:41 am
I would die without our air con and fan! Now that the Other Half is off work for a little while I can’t wait to blow up our paddling pool, fill it with ice, and watch the rest of the cricket whilst drinking cold beers. mind you, I will be hiding my head in shame if England keep on playing like they have been.
Thankfully one of the few photos I have with me of home is of a bright clear day (the last Christmas I had there) and it looks lovely. Mind you, I won’t repeat the Other Half’s comments regarding the snow…
xx