40 degrees they said

Note to self - do not EVER go out of the house when they say its going to be 40 degrees.  Even if it's for work, say no, lets reschedule.  Because these weather predictions can be a tad wrong. Now a degree here and there really doesn't matter much I guess, usually. I mean, we all know hot from cold, and when they say 40 degrees we think 'hot'.

However.  Then there was yesterday.  40 degrees expected.  Ok, I had to go to this work meeting, had to.  So got myself ready, ignored the boss's instruction not to get dressed up, well, he said just wear 'casual' so I didn't wear my usual 'office' attire, but I did wear some nice lightweight pants and a short sleeve blouse, and the dreaded heels. Not dressed up, smart casual I guess.  Anyway I had the air-con on in the house of course, all very nice and cool it was.  Then I opened the door to head out, and wham, the heat hit me.  This wasn't hot, this was freaky inferno hot.  Nothing I could do about it, had to get going.  And I had to get two buses.  First bus leaves from just down on the corner, only a minute's walk.  Ok, go.

Not bad, at least it wasn't late arriving.  And the buses are air conditioned of course, good.  I get to the next bus stop, find some shade and wait for the next bus, about 10 minutes.  Survived the wait.

Now I have MS, which I like to forget about mostly.  Sometimes it wont let me.  When its hot is one of those times.  But still I headed out on my little trip not giving it much thought.  Then I get to the venue for our meeting.  Stairs. Two flights.  You're kidding me I'm thinking.  My boss knows I have MS, he's a really good boss, I have no complaints, but I realise now that I have to educate him a little as to the restrictions of MS.  I can climb stairs, its just not easy at the best of times, and in the heat I discovered yesterday I can't do it on my own.  Luckily one of my co-workers showed up, and we hadnt met before, but I was on the lookout for some assistance and so asked the first person to show up 'would you happen to be so & so" and luckily 'yes'.  So we introduced ourselves at the bottom of the stairs, I explained my situation, and accepted the offered arm up the stairs.  Made it.  Whew.

So all was well.  Meeting over and done.  And I head back home. Two buses again.  First one was fine.  Second one didnt show up. I was the only one waiting for the bus.  I ring the bus company.  Bus has broken down.  Almost an hour later it shows up.  By which time I have barely enough strength to walk more than a few paces, having sat in soaring heat all that time.  Enough to get from the seat I was sitting on to the bus, just.  Nice bus driver, said 'you've been waiting ages, just take a seat, no charge'.  I must have looked close to death.  I know I had only the barest of strength left in my body.

44 degrees it was.  46 in some places they said, I think it got to 46 while I was waiting for that damn bus.  44 degrees = 111 degrees Fahrenheit.  At 8pm last night it was still 40 degrees outside. It was so hot the weather vane thermometer in my garden had exploded.  Honest, the thermometer exploded!

Lesson learnt.  Listen to boss, no long pants next time. Thinking it'll be ok, is not the way to go.  Because things can go wrong. Buses can be late. And then there can be stairs lurking around any corner. And when you have MS, hot is not just hot, hot has nasty implications, like barely being able to walk.  I dont like that.  Once I got home to my lovely air conditioned home I recovered, I'm back to my usual self and all is well, but I will never ever EVER leave home in that sort of temperature again!