Under The Burgenland Sun.

Another heat wave.

One can tell that there are unusual hot temperatures about when the various ways of cooling down are discussed over the radio. Where on earth did they unearth these heat navigators?

Cold mini showers are a no no, as is cold liquid which of course made all of us listening in a hot and humid car change course for the nearest shop to get something icy cold to drink. Driving into Deutsch Schützen at half past nine this morning was a uncomfortable deja-vu of driving around Morningside in Durban during a hot February trying not to get stuck on the car seat and finding ways to loosen the grip on the hot steering wheel. February, a challenge indeed.

Back to Eisenberg and our extreme heat. The grass has turned that muddy brown overnight, the leaves of most flowers and vegetable crops are wilting sadly and the few cumulus wafting about are more show than substance giving us a few moments of joyful anticipation until we realize that they off to fool someone else.

Mausi has wilted on our bed for most of the day although she does so rather elegantly. When I heed the call of insomnia by migrating through to the lounge and television, she follows suit and lately has made her little sleeping corner next to me on our small couch. Brave little thing squeezing herself next to my knees with her paws dangling precariously over the edge. Turning onto my side has become a team effort. Thankfully she's got nine lives!

Both of our immediate neighbours harbor swimming pools and when I go up to the washing line I can hear the splashes, dares and joie de vivre of kids trying their hardest to displace as much water as possible from the cool blue pool. Sometimes it is the young ones that show us that the glass is indeed half full...

Biggi