Since Mother Nature has gone crazy and forced Europe to experience Australian- and American-level heat, I want to know how things are going for the Gatchamaniacs Across the Pond. Have you all found a way to cope?

I've survived to tell the tale, thanks to a fellow Gatchamaniac from Australia posing some useful tips on Facebook. Her "damp cloth in the freezer" tip was particularly useful, as was the "ice cubes in pet's water bowls" Thanks Maddy, it quite possibly saved a few lives. Otherwise, I stayed home and drank lots! Oh, and fun fact.... 9 of the last 10 hottest UK days on record have all been in the past 20 years.

Hi everyone, long time since I posted on this forum. Missed you all, and it was nice to see you online at the latest GatchaCon Line. I was in Greece in July, which was HOT but most of the time I was on an island, now I'm back in Brussels and, guess what, we are having a summer! It's very, very hot but I'm really enjoying, as summers are rare here... Plus the leak on my ceiling hasn't been fixed so I'm not too keen on rain. The negative aspect are the forest fires raging in Greece and in the rest of Europe...

Originally posted by Daniella T Hi everyone, long time since I posted on this forum. Missed you all, and it was nice to see you online at the latest GatchaCon Line. I was in Greece in July, which was HOT but most of the time I was on an island, now I'm back in Brussels and, guess what, we are having a summer! It's very, very hot but I'm really enjoying, as summers are rare here... Plus the leak on my ceiling hasn't been fixed so I'm not too keen on rain. The negative aspect are the forest fires raging in Greece and in the rest of Europe...

It was a pleasure to meet you as well Daniella, it's always nice for me to put faces to names, so the zoom session after was especially fun for me.

I'm glad you survived the heatwave. I haven't watched much news lately, so I was behind on the extent of it in England. Its been many years since we used to freeze ice-cream tubs of water to keep cool and keep pets cool as the ice melts. I always have a washer in the freezer for various things, or is it simply habit?? Air conditioning makes a big difference in Australia these days.

I still freeze ice cream tubs full of water to put in bird drinkers for my raptors and the poultry. But yes, life without air conditioning is a frightening thought. Those little neckerchiefs with the water beads in them are pretty good if you're outside in the heat. Hats are essential. Viscose and hemp are more absorbent and breathable than cotton. Ironically I'm snug in my favourite chair by the fire right now as it's a cold night in the forest.

The temps have been erratic in NSW, we have gone from floods to chills and its mid September. They're still repairing flood damage around town. Today its warm temps cold winds. I'm staying indoors!