It's certainly been very hot here in Cumbria too, but not dry like you poor
folks in the south have been suffering. A week past Monday I had to drive to
Ambleside from NW Cumbria, and we were almost stopped in our tracks by flash
floods on the road between Keswick and Grasmere - as you can see here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87075678@N00/189704298/

Several cars chickened out and turned back, but we bravely ploughed through
the water and had a very pleasant evening morris dancing in Ambleside. The
road had more or less dried out by the time we made our way home.

Our grass is growing like the clappers - heatwaves seem to help it to grow
so long as there's enough rain, and believe me, there has been. Our water
butts are full to the brim.

ally