38c at midday

I drove into Florence to the dentist having done last night’s dishes. I dropped G in Fiesole and proceeded down into the bowl of the town.

By the time I was out it was 38C and the AC on the car could do little to help. I hightailed it back to the Casentino but it gave little relief.

My hay fever is dreadful as the pollen from god knows where settles back to earth. The cold and very wet spring combined with the endless sun and heat has led to a bumper hay crop. The chestnuts are just beginning to bloom.

Worse is to come with orange warnings tomorrow and Friday. But the grapes are growing and the melon plants look willing. I’ve even put some watermelon plants in. The wild clematis is a briefly beautiful picture (extra). It would rule the world if it could.