Instructions for a Heatwave

For the last few days we've been blessed with a rare September heatwave. The newspapers reported that at 31 degrees, Tuesday was the hottest September day in over 100 years...

And what is the number one thing to do when the weather is this beautiful? Get on your bike!

Seriously, the days of pure sunshine on our little green isle are so rare, sometimes the only option is to put down the laptop and just enjoy it. My boyfriend and I took our bikes out and peddled through the lush countryside, enjoying the blue skies and green fields with the sun beating down on our backs.

Our destination was The Kings Head pub in Wadenhoe. It's a very picturesque country pub with tables aligning the River Nene, I would recommend it to anyone as the perfect spot for a sunny day. That said, it also boasts a cosy interior for when the weather becomes more wintery and chilly. My family and I sometimes go there around Christmas time for a drink after taking my niece sledging on the nearby Wadenhoe hill. 

We initially planned to stop for lunch but unfortunately the pub wasn't serving food that day (a shame, as they do a great steak and chips), so there was only natural solution...

Liquid lunch!!

Two (*ahem* four) glasses of cool, frosty English cider were the perfect thirst-quenching remedy to the morning's exercise.

Nothing else to do but lazily stretch out and watch the occasional canal boat chug past.

After a few hours happily chatting and soaking up the booze and sunshine, we decided it was high time to cool off - countryside style!

Ditching our clothes on the river bank, we leaped into the refreshingly chilly water. 

Only a tiny bit terrified of contracting Weil's disease, the overall experience was very pleasant.  The water was crystal clear and the trees provided a welcome shady canopy. My boyfriend ducked out after a few minutes, but I was happy to stay in the water for a little while longer.

Later, thoroughly refreshed and now completely famished, we cycled home (only slightly wobbly) in search of sustenance.

In the form of a giant pizza to share and the number one remedy for a heatwave....

You already know it's ice cream. In this case pistachio, strawberry mascarpone and coconut and nutella ripple from Salernos (dream).

Happy heatwave everybody! I hear it's due to rain solidly now for the rest of the week...