As I’m sure you’ve seen in the news, or are experiencing yourself, a lot of the world is in the middle of a heatwave. Homes in Normandy typically don't have A/C. But if your house is an old stone house, we’ve learned it’s possible to keep quite comfortable, even when it’s over 100 degrees (or 40 in celsius) outside.
I'm pretty sure Target sells the La Roche-Posay line in the US. If you're looking for it in the US, I would check out Target and see if this sunscreen is in stock.
My husband is in France for a conference meeting in an old stone castle. He said nights were fine, but it got steamy and miserable during meetings yesterday. Wish we built so carefully and climate aware these days. Also, have had my own run-in with CPS. It was devastating and I learned that they are a world that operates above the law...or with their own laws. The worst realization is that you are assumed "guilty" in their eyes and it is extremely difficult to prove your innocence and while you wait to sort things, you and your family suffer.
I like La Roche-Posay, and I haven't done the comparison, but would the "American" version have more chemicals and stuff than the European version? I recently read an article about how every other country has better sunscreen than in the US, so I'd be willing to pay for the European one to ship over vs getting a worse quality US one...if that makes sense.
The house I grew up in was built out of wood, like most in the PNW, but surrounded by 100yo shade trees and we had a similar method of cooling off the house at night and shutting it up during the heat of the day. It worked pretty well up to about 100F so long as it cooled off at night. We try to do the same thing with our house now but without the shade trees (we planted some 12yrs ago but they're only now starting to provide any shade for the yard and it's not enough yet to shade the house) it doesn't work nearly as well. I hate air conditioning but last year when we had a number of days over 105F we had to resort to some window AC units but even with those could only get it down to ~85-90F.
Really hoping for you all the temperature resumes what used to be "normal" but man, being in a hot European summer can be debilitating. I read with interest that this is only the third "hottest" summer France has experienced, 1947 and 2019 being the other two. We were hiking around Paris in 2019 and it was so bad (our phones said 107º) we gave up on seeing some of our favorite spots. Yet we lived to tell the tale! Hang in there and ... do nothing!
Hi Gabrielle. Woof. The situation with your nephew is mind boggling. I'm so sorry they're going through this. I listened to a podcast last year that is eerily similar. (Here it is: https://www.nbcnews.com/donoharm) I've worked in social services as an administrator and I've been a foster parent. I cannot imagine why it would be necessary to remove the children and place them with strangers. That protects children from whatever immediate harm, but as your tweet thread pointed out, not from the long-term harm of separation. I'm sending your family healing energy for what lies ahead.
I'm in England and there's very little air conditioning here, too. We had two incredibly hot days this week but with the help of a couple of fans we've been quite comfortable. Our house is brick. I think it's well insulated because the window sills are quite deep. (I'd love an old stone house.). Keeping. your family in my thoughts. I am so grateful that I don't live in the U.S. anymore.
Hi there, coming to you from the Sonoran Desert, where temps can hit 115 in the summer. I'm so sorry it's so hot there. Gabrielle, it sounds like you've got it covered, but adding wet sheets in windows at night can add a really nice cooling layer to your cooling system. I hope it cools down soon.
Hi there! Just a little heads-up. Quantity really matters in order to get the full SPF written in the bottle. For most sunscreens, you would need two finger lengths worth only for your face, and as sunscreen is notoriously unstable, you would need to reapply at regular intervals. Also, a recommendation of my own: Heliocare Advanced spray. Really good Spanish sunscreen, same texture, even more comfortable and lightweight on the skin. Bisous!
I am so sorry to hear of your nephew’s situation. This is just so wrong and so unacceptable. I get that you need to verify that there’s no child abuse (it happened to me when my daughter was 5 months old and rolled off the bed, because heaven forbid my firstborn never went on the floor! We rushed her to hospital and were separated immediately and interviewed separately, so I get it) but this seems really outrageous. May their baby be reunited with them asap.
On a lighter note, that’s the face sunscreen I use, recommended by my daughter. It works beautifully.
In Ontario, Canada we are also experiencing a 40 degree heat wave. Okay when it cools down at night but for last 3 days it has not. I’m ok I have aircon but our long term care homes are without it. This is murderous in my opinion yet the provincial CONservative government which owns this, does NOTHING. I’m so sad for the residents and outraged that this is happening in 2022
What a heartbreaking time this is for your nephew, his wife, & children. It is mind boggling there are not advocates for the parents. I will continue to hold them in my heart & hope this terrible situation can be resolved soon.
We visited Europe for a month in July 2003 during a heatwave, and walked through France, Switzerland and north Italy. In Geneva after several days of (only!) 38C/100F we were just finishing a tour of the Calvin cathedral when an organ concert started. We sat down near the back and I put my hand out to touch the pillar that was 8ft across (or more). It was WARM. The stone floors were warm too.
For our house, we do the same in Canada for the few hot days we used to get, with the addition of putting a fan in a window blowing Outside in the evening - drawing the warm air out of the house. Stay cool.
We live in Barcelona, where summers can get pretty hot. We didn't have AC because just by opening the windows on both sides of the apartment we would get a nice cool breeze at night (except for maybe 3 to 5 "tropical nights"a year). But our second son was born on June 27th 2019, precisely when a really bad heat wave hit us. It was horrible, not being able to rest at night because of the heat plus a nursing baby and a cranky toddler. So we ended up installing small AC units in the bedrooms, and they've been a blessing. Last summer we re-did half of our apartment, and decided to install a big ceiling fan in the living room... best decision ever! Highly recommend it
This is a bit late, but you are doing all the right things to keep the house cool.
I live in Australia, in the country, in a stone house built circa 1850s. If you keep the doors and windows shut and covered during the day, and open everything at night, you can keep a house cool for about 3 days. If the house heats up, it seems to take about 3 days to cool it down again.
If the nights stay hot, it's better to keep the house shut up.
The house will be cooler if you can shade the exterior walls in some way so they don't heat up from the sun eg using outdoor blinds, hanging shadecloth.
We also have fully ducted air con, but we barely ever use it. Maybe 2 or 3 times in summer if there's an extended heatwave. Haven't used it at all the past two years.
I'm pretty sure Target sells the La Roche-Posay line in the US. If you're looking for it in the US, I would check out Target and see if this sunscreen is in stock.
My husband is in France for a conference meeting in an old stone castle. He said nights were fine, but it got steamy and miserable during meetings yesterday. Wish we built so carefully and climate aware these days. Also, have had my own run-in with CPS. It was devastating and I learned that they are a world that operates above the law...or with their own laws. The worst realization is that you are assumed "guilty" in their eyes and it is extremely difficult to prove your innocence and while you wait to sort things, you and your family suffer.
Better to involve police than a social worker!
I like La Roche-Posay, and I haven't done the comparison, but would the "American" version have more chemicals and stuff than the European version? I recently read an article about how every other country has better sunscreen than in the US, so I'd be willing to pay for the European one to ship over vs getting a worse quality US one...if that makes sense.
The house I grew up in was built out of wood, like most in the PNW, but surrounded by 100yo shade trees and we had a similar method of cooling off the house at night and shutting it up during the heat of the day. It worked pretty well up to about 100F so long as it cooled off at night. We try to do the same thing with our house now but without the shade trees (we planted some 12yrs ago but they're only now starting to provide any shade for the yard and it's not enough yet to shade the house) it doesn't work nearly as well. I hate air conditioning but last year when we had a number of days over 105F we had to resort to some window AC units but even with those could only get it down to ~85-90F.
Really hoping for you all the temperature resumes what used to be "normal" but man, being in a hot European summer can be debilitating. I read with interest that this is only the third "hottest" summer France has experienced, 1947 and 2019 being the other two. We were hiking around Paris in 2019 and it was so bad (our phones said 107º) we gave up on seeing some of our favorite spots. Yet we lived to tell the tale! Hang in there and ... do nothing!
Hi Gabrielle. Woof. The situation with your nephew is mind boggling. I'm so sorry they're going through this. I listened to a podcast last year that is eerily similar. (Here it is: https://www.nbcnews.com/donoharm) I've worked in social services as an administrator and I've been a foster parent. I cannot imagine why it would be necessary to remove the children and place them with strangers. That protects children from whatever immediate harm, but as your tweet thread pointed out, not from the long-term harm of separation. I'm sending your family healing energy for what lies ahead.
I'm in England and there's very little air conditioning here, too. We had two incredibly hot days this week but with the help of a couple of fans we've been quite comfortable. Our house is brick. I think it's well insulated because the window sills are quite deep. (I'd love an old stone house.). Keeping. your family in my thoughts. I am so grateful that I don't live in the U.S. anymore.
Hi there, coming to you from the Sonoran Desert, where temps can hit 115 in the summer. I'm so sorry it's so hot there. Gabrielle, it sounds like you've got it covered, but adding wet sheets in windows at night can add a really nice cooling layer to your cooling system. I hope it cools down soon.
Hi there! Just a little heads-up. Quantity really matters in order to get the full SPF written in the bottle. For most sunscreens, you would need two finger lengths worth only for your face, and as sunscreen is notoriously unstable, you would need to reapply at regular intervals. Also, a recommendation of my own: Heliocare Advanced spray. Really good Spanish sunscreen, same texture, even more comfortable and lightweight on the skin. Bisous!
I am so sorry to hear of your nephew’s situation. This is just so wrong and so unacceptable. I get that you need to verify that there’s no child abuse (it happened to me when my daughter was 5 months old and rolled off the bed, because heaven forbid my firstborn never went on the floor! We rushed her to hospital and were separated immediately and interviewed separately, so I get it) but this seems really outrageous. May their baby be reunited with them asap.
On a lighter note, that’s the face sunscreen I use, recommended by my daughter. It works beautifully.
In Ontario, Canada we are also experiencing a 40 degree heat wave. Okay when it cools down at night but for last 3 days it has not. I’m ok I have aircon but our long term care homes are without it. This is murderous in my opinion yet the provincial CONservative government which owns this, does NOTHING. I’m so sad for the residents and outraged that this is happening in 2022
In Mexico, adobe construction with no central heating. I do what you do, plus keep lights off. Ceiling fans and a couple small space fans.
Dear Gabby,
What a heartbreaking time this is for your nephew, his wife, & children. It is mind boggling there are not advocates for the parents. I will continue to hold them in my heart & hope this terrible situation can be resolved soon.
We visited Europe for a month in July 2003 during a heatwave, and walked through France, Switzerland and north Italy. In Geneva after several days of (only!) 38C/100F we were just finishing a tour of the Calvin cathedral when an organ concert started. We sat down near the back and I put my hand out to touch the pillar that was 8ft across (or more). It was WARM. The stone floors were warm too.
For our house, we do the same in Canada for the few hot days we used to get, with the addition of putting a fan in a window blowing Outside in the evening - drawing the warm air out of the house. Stay cool.
We live in Barcelona, where summers can get pretty hot. We didn't have AC because just by opening the windows on both sides of the apartment we would get a nice cool breeze at night (except for maybe 3 to 5 "tropical nights"a year). But our second son was born on June 27th 2019, precisely when a really bad heat wave hit us. It was horrible, not being able to rest at night because of the heat plus a nursing baby and a cranky toddler. So we ended up installing small AC units in the bedrooms, and they've been a blessing. Last summer we re-did half of our apartment, and decided to install a big ceiling fan in the living room... best decision ever! Highly recommend it
This is a bit late, but you are doing all the right things to keep the house cool.
I live in Australia, in the country, in a stone house built circa 1850s. If you keep the doors and windows shut and covered during the day, and open everything at night, you can keep a house cool for about 3 days. If the house heats up, it seems to take about 3 days to cool it down again.
If the nights stay hot, it's better to keep the house shut up.
The house will be cooler if you can shade the exterior walls in some way so they don't heat up from the sun eg using outdoor blinds, hanging shadecloth.
We also have fully ducted air con, but we barely ever use it. Maybe 2 or 3 times in summer if there's an extended heatwave. Haven't used it at all the past two years.