Hi both xxx
Emptybox
that is good you are having a good spell of weather too.
take care up that long ladder, good job it wasn't a windy day.
Yes they have been closing lots of bank branches round here too. Not good at all for those living in out of town places when their local village ones close down.
Boiler ok now? Hope so.
Hicky
sounds like you got a fair bit done on the greenhouse whilst the weather is good.
I know what you mean, it has been too hot to do too much cooking/ Our kitchen is in the sun all afternoon so is awful! I have been taking lots of short cuts to avoid cooking in it, eg only using halogen oven, eating out or salads, going to chippy.
What do you do with your shallots? Eat them raw or cook with them?
Hope you are pleased with the thermostat you chose.
So pleased you have found the date for BB, can't wait. 
Yes as Emptybox says, if you are away for a long time, seems a waste to heat the house too much. You could try hot water bottles along with Emptybox's suggestion of thermals. 
But of course you will feel the cold as you are returning from a summer in mid summer to here in our mid winter. 
Having said I was bored with Love Island, I am enjoying tonight's episode with the babies. Gosh I hope Alex's description of a caesaerian does not put any viewers off having a baby! It sounded awful. The boys were so funny though when they were left with the babies.
Enjoyed our weather today, around 25c but not humid as we had a nice breeze. We went to seafront and I had a gin and raspberry sorbet ice cream, very nice it was.
Goodnight both xxx