The fantastic heatwave of the past few weeks has been just wonderful for sun lovers like me who enjoy the outdoor life and for farmers with the harvest to bring in but difficult for those who just cannot keep cool. Living at the highest point locally with

The fantastic heatwave of the past few weeks has been just wonderful for sun lovers like me who enjoy the outdoor life and for farmers with the harvest to bring in but difficult for those who just cannot keep cool. Living at the highest point locally with nothing much between me and Luton Airport, I am pretty well sure of a breeze. It's not all good news for the farmers, the yield from many crops is poor due to lack of rain at the crucial time. St. Swithun's Day, July 15 was dry and as the saying goes:

St. Swithun's Day, if it dost rain

For forty days it will remain.

St. Swithun's Day, if thou be fair

For forty days, 'twill rain no mair.

On that basis we shall be in for a busy time watering. Those of us on water meters are used to counting every drop but even that is not enough1 In order to keep a few pots going I have disconnected the pipe from my dishwasher, washing machine and kitchen sink and collect all the water for the garden and certainly baths are out.

Keep the weekend of September 9 and 10 free and get your bicycle out and some practice in for the Beds and Herts Sponsored Bicycle Ride on Saturday, September 9. Sponsorship forms are available from Helen Roberts. Half the money raised goes to the cyclist's nominated church, the other to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches' Trust. It is a great day out if the weather keeps up! Organist Peter Saunders manages to visit over forty churches but that takes some doing.