Summer on the plains!

Saturday afternoon and I am lying on the floor of my room listening to the fan whirl overhead. I am resisting turning the air conditioner on – it won’t work with the generator anyway so I have to wait another hour.

Summer has definitely arrived! It is as if it was sneaking up on us and then all of a sudden decided to jump out if it’s hiding place. Three months ago the bill boards on the side of the road gaily announced the arrival of the new spring fashions. We laughed as we drove through the freezing rain with the heating still on full blast, But, just to be safe, we joined the hordes of other Islamabad women shopping for fine cotton lawn in brights and pastels. Wrapped in layers of wool and pashmina, and duly rushed off to the tailor – and then waited……

The days started to dawn slightly warmer, the roses bloomed and, the pomegranates were replaced by strawberries in the green grocer. On the weekend I was buying mine from the man who would sit outside our bakery, when I went to pick up our fresh baguettes. He also had bunches of beautiful red and pink roses.
Whenever I commented on how lovely the days were, and how nice it was not to be cold, Pakistani friends smiled and said ‘just you wait until June and July’.

 Well, if I get through May, it will be a miracle! I now know why the memsahibs were sent to the hill stations (although I do have my own theories about the swooning being related to the magnificent moustaches rather than the heat)! The roses are wilting on the bushes and the strawberries, when you do find them, don’t last the day. Although the peaches and cherries are perfect but sadly , not for long.

This morning we set off to do our shopping as usual. With the heat we have to adjust our strategy slightly – nonfood shopping first, then grocery, including the milk and cheese. At this point the air con in the car is turned on – much to our driver, Shakeel’s relief, as he waits for us – and we rush off for the fruit and salad. Salad greens have become noticeably rare, as with the heat, the vendors keep their perishable stock to a minimum. They are all open stalls – no air conditioning or chilling cabinets! But we have found one who keeps his greens covered in damp cloths which are regularly sprayed with cold water and so far it seems to be working. Returning to the cooled car I hand a very relieved Shakeel a paper cup of icy cold, freshly squeezed orange juice.

 Another hour or so and the sun will start to go down and with it the temperature. Hopefully we will have an evening below 30°C!

Meanwhile, I am giving thanks for the wonderful A.A. Shakir of Malindi old town on the Kenyan coast, The supplier of my beautiful light cotton voile tops and ‘beach dresses’ which, in the past weeks have really saved me from overheating! The tops (to just above the knee) have attracted many complements from female friends, Pakistani and European alike. They are very disappointed when I tell them they are from Kenya not Pakistan. Maybe I need to find a way of importing.

SO roll on July, when I will have to devise a way of keeping the laptop dry whilst reclining in a bath tub of cold water!!   

 

beautiful scented roses from our garden in Peshawar. For 2 days my room smelt divine

 

At least my feet stay cool!

 

I even went as far as taking photos and emailing them to Kenya asking if they did mail order to Pakistan (a bit like sending coals to Newcastle!)

 

Very light weight fabric but long sleeves and trousers are still the order of the day.