Summer, We've Had Enough... Bring on Autumn!

Published on 5 August 2026 at 07:03

Some time ago I wrote a blog called How I Survived a Heatwave. Not long after that came Preparing for Another Heatwave.. How innocent I was. I honestly thought that would be the end of it.

Instead... another heatwave arrived. And another. And another.

I have completely lost count.

Here in the Netherlands, the weather keeps surprising us. Forest fires in the south, smoke hanging over cities, burning fields in the countryside around us. Compared to so many people around the world, I know we are still very lucky. Many are dealing with far worse.

Still... endless heat is exhausting.

"Four heatwaves this summer," I said to my sister.

"Four?" she exclaimed; "You mean six tropical periods."

Six?!

Apparently, we stopped counting somewhere along the way.

The strange thing is that people even start getting used to it.

My daughter's apartment was 31°C (88°F) again.

"Oh sweetheart," I asked. "Can you even sleep?"

"Not really, Mum... but you get used to it."

Do you? I'm not so sure.

The heat also seems to melt our brains a little

Yesterday I was chatting with a friend. Suddenly her messages made absolutely no sense. Complete nonsense!

A few minutes later she wrote:

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! I thought I was talking to someone else!"

No worries.

My husband and I are quite experienced when it comes to misunderstandings, but lately we're having conversations where neither of us has any idea what the other is talking about. A whole next level and a level caused by heat.

Then there were my Etsy parcels.

One customer ordered a medieval apron.

The other ordered a sewing pattern.

Guess what happened? The sewing pattern went to the apron customer......and the apron travelled to the sewing pattern customer.

Brilliant.

Thankfully both customers were wonderfully kind, but I still wanted to hide under my sewing table.

Heatwave versus Marga: 1 -0

People say you get used to hot weather.

Maybe, but I don't think those of us who grew up in our little grey, rainy country will ever adapt to it.

Thus....

What does all this have to do with HandmadeLuxuryHome?

One magical word.

Autumn.

Oh, how I miss autumn.

I always thought I was one of the few people who actually looked forward to grey skies.

Give me cold wind in my face.

Rain tapping on my coat.

A long walk with the dogs while battling the weather.

Coming home tired but happy.

A large mug of hot coffee.

Two soaking wet, slightly smelly dogs.

Perfect.

Then there are the forests...

Golden leaves.

Deep red colours.

Morning mist.

Those breathtaking woodland walks.

And finally, the feeling that you are perfectly excused staying indoors and spending the evening sewing, quilting, painting or making something beautiful.

Yes, I'm doing that now too because it's simply too hot outside but somehow it doesn't feel the same.