I’m in England, nothing works, and everyone is being told to stay home

June 28, 2026 — 5:00am

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Careful what you wish for: I left Australia days ago in search of warmer temperatures in which to temporarily implant my “digital nomad” freelance lifestyle.

I’ve landed in Europe at a time of record-breaking heat. Infrastructure is groaning and people are moaning. Homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and transport systems are being brought to the brink.

Specifically, I’ve returned to my hometown in Kent, in the UK, as heat records for June have been smashed, with parts of the country tipping over 36 degrees Celsius. Nearby France during the week recorded its hottest day since records began: 44.3 degrees. And it isn’t even yet the height of summer.

The irony is, the UK is a country known for its predominantly cold, grey and grim weather with the stereotype being this leads to cold people, the notorious “stiff upper lip”. This time, though, the country is not keeping calm and carrying on.

Chilly, drizzly weather is why I emigrated to Australia. I vowed to return to the UK after two years. That was almost 15 years ago.

My home country’s inhabitants spend all year........

© The Age