Evening notes 27 June

A hot day in Holland, with the mercury reaching 90F in the south and east of the country. Even as I type this at 8.40pm, we're still on 30C (86F), with the sun going down in about 80 minutes' time. The workmen have been digging up the street all day, and repairing broken drains. This part of the village was built more than 50 years ago, and things tend to give up the ghost in that time.

I should add that my village hosts a baronial castle, although the last baron passed away in 1962. Anyone who worked at the castle felt a tad above the plebs who did not, and everybody felt a tad above anyone who dared to come in from outside. I'm talking about the 1950s/60s. However, things have changed since a large influx of people in the 1960s and 70s; and the advent of the daily commute has certainly worked its levelling powers. The only thing that this place prides itself on is the fact that it houses the largest numbers of millionaires in any Dutch municipalities.