Someone turned the heat up while I was away.

Actually it was quite warm in Madrid just before I left for France. Then after a few weeks of poor weather in France and UK coming back to Madrid the wall of hot air hit me and there is no escape. It doesn’t seem to affect Dani at all. He takes it all in his stride.

I am writing this as I read that there is about to be a mini heatwave in the UK. Temperatures are set to go as high as the low 30s this week. That heatwave aside we are now in that time of year when the daily low in Madrid is warmer than the daily high in the UK. It was about 16°C in the UK when we left – admittedly lower than it should be for the time of year – and double that here in Madrid when we landed.

It has gotten even warmer since; reaching up to about 40°C now. In fact, we are now in that ‘too hot’ time of the year. Sleeping is difficult without a fan. Leaving the windows open is no help as the outside temperature can be higher than inside. Yet again Dani takes it in his stride. He still sleeps well, even in these uncomfortable temperatures.

It is also that time of year when most of the population of the city flee the oppressive heat and head for the coast. North, south, east or west; anywhere there is sea where the temperature will be that crucial few degrees cooler. It makes all the difference, especially at night.

Heatwaves aside, the only thing that is bothering Dani right now is the intense potty training. He just does not want to do it. He has been a very quick developer in most things. He stopped needing his dummy (chupete) long ago, he only drinks from cups and his speech development is fantastic. Yet he still seems determined to stay in his nappies (pañales). The big problem is that in September when he starts full time school they insist that the kids are fully toilet trained.

As mentioned in a previous post “Schools – Part 1” they start full time school at three years old in Spain although in Dani’s case he will not quite be three. It is now becoming a race against time…