Today the 24th of July is the first cool day we have had, and it feels great to get some catching up done. What a relief to breath in refreshing cool air and actually feel like doing something, although I haven't taken any photos, so here are a few old ones that I don't remember sharing. 

JAYS IN THE SHADE

A few more images of Jays in the shade.

It is cooler now, and in the morning I'm able to sit outside, however there is another heatwave forecast for next week.  I hope it won't be as hot as it's been.

I will be linking to "Wild Bird Wednesday" and "Saterday's Critters". You can check out  both by clicking on the icons on the right. They will not disappoint.

THE HEATWAVE

Hello again, how have you been coping with the heat? I haven't  been doing well at all . After getting my glasses I have stayed indoors all the time,with blinds closed and curtains drawn but there is no escaping this oppressive heat  Eva had a large industrial fan that someone had given her  so she gave it to me, and it's been in use day and night but it does little to lower the temperaturet in my bedroom which is 35 degrees so  my T-shirts get soaking wet. and the temperature is rising. On the Portuguese news the weather forecast is for temperatures to reach 40 deg within a few days.time, it reached 42 deg in fact for several days. Warm water comes out of the cold tap, and after a shower I hardly need a towel, however that fresh feeling doesn't last long. I try to replace lost liquids by drinking l liter of water a day, ,adding fruit juice and tea, but I have no energy at all. I hear helicopters flying over my house day and night on their way to help firefighters  extinguish nearby fires. To me the buckets full of water always appear  inadequaetly small to help douse the flames, but  apparently they are effective. My lack of energy is the reason I haven't visited anyone or made another post before now. Before the heatwave was at it's peak, both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers kept putting in an appearance, but I haven't seen any birds at all lately. They are sheltering from this extreme heat in the foliage of the trees where I see movement  and sometimes birds flying from one tree to another in the early hours of the morning but no visitors to my balcony, so as  I have no wild life to share  I found an old file named "aircraft"and here are a few images of some of them.

This is the lookout helicopter patroling the forest areas for any sign of a fire.

An image of a helicopter with the container of water trailing behind.

A helicopter using another type of container to carry the water.

Working at night.

I was looking through old files yesterday and found one of "Jays in the shade,"

so I am including one here, but there are many more which I will share next time. 

As you have probably guessed it's cooler now, making chores, or any activity easier to acheive. It is 29deg's in my bedroom, still quite hot, but better than before

Please excuse the iregular lines, but for reasons I can't understand, Justify did 'nt work.

UPDATE AND OBSERVATIONS OF CREATURES AND GARDEN FLOWERS.

Dear friends and fellow bloggers, you have all been so kind in sending warm encouraging comments and well wishes for my speedy recovery, thank you so much. For a while I felt as if I had grit in both eyes but was told that in time this would disapear, and it did .However I will still have to wear glasses for watching TV and at the computer. with  Progressive Lenses, I chose some really nice frames, but am still waiting for my new glasses to arrive, which should be within two or three days time, then I will be able to see much better. Pedro's and my birthday were enjoyed by two birthday celebrations, instead of just one. My lovely daughter Eva gave me a new feeder to hang at the bird's feeding station. When it arrived and assembled it was a lot bigger than she had anticipated from looking at the picture in the catalogue and  she was so disappointed but I think that it  doesn't look that bad, and it is squirrel proof which was the main reason for Eva buying it. 

Two photos to show where it hangs from, and also show the bottom of the feeder.

The squirrels step onto the loops and the mecanism closes the feeding places.

The roses around the entrance door gave a good show of blooms this year.

My large Hoya Carnoso came into flower for the first time since it was put outside on my balcony.

I am delighted with the many  blooms it has produced, and there are many in bud

The Trumpet Vine is now in full bloom.

Blue-tit

The Eurasian Jay.

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 Partly hidden Eurasian Jay. 

Sweet pose from this blue-tit.

Always a pleasure to see a robin.

Female great-tit

This wily squirrel is on it's way to the feeder

The Blackbird used to come every day whilst feeding it's chicks. Haven't seen it since.

The Boganvilla gave a wonderful display of flowerrs this year.

The Agapanthus are a lovely shade of blue and so are the Hydrangeas.

The March Frog in the pond.

Two Newts

A  Dachshund metal boot scraper 

Fig leaves are so decorative.

Out of focus female Great Spotted Woodpecker. She comes to my balcony every day.

The Great-tit with a peanut in it's beak

Thank goodness it rained last night, as the temperature has been unbearable, in the high thirties making doing nothing feel exausting.  I was postrate for most of the time. It is still 35 deg outside on the balcony but it seems like a respite after almost 40 deg's I know that we will have to get used to this extreme heat as it's our future

however physically draining  and debilitating it may be.This post was done over a period of a few days but even so, my eyes are suffering the consequences,  they are tired and watery. I will visit you all as soon as i receive my new glasses.

I will be linking up to Saturday's Critters tyou will find the logo on the right, just click on it and it will take you there.

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