Joys of the British Summer

Just when you think that Summer in turning into Autumn; cool days, almost a chill in the air, as was the case last week; this week goes to prove the the wonderous unpredictability of the British climate is still King. It's the dying days of August, yet the forecast for London tomorrow is sunshine and a scorching prediction of 31 degrees.

I'd be lying if I was particularly looking forward to having to work through such a heatwave, but if summertime is going to cling on for a while longer before letting go, well that's just fine by me. As Summer does draw to its natural (if always unexpected) conclusion, I tend to find it a time to cast a look back on the the heady long days that have passed, before the psychological and photo-period drop into dark, dank Winter. Have I made the most of it? Could I have done more? Should I be wracked by guilt at letting these days pass too easily, I wonder.

Well, if I face the facts I've been working throughout the Summer, more or less. Unlike many, many others who leap at the first chance to head off to some sun-drenched beach during the height of the Summer, I am in contrast no sun-worshipper. I tend to endure the unairconditioned heat of summertime Britain, and holiday at other times of the year. In some ways this is daft. It would be perfectly logical if I, in the off season, heading away to some Southern land still enjoying warmth and sunshine. Somehow, however, this never quite works out, and I end up meeting friends in some particularly chilly parts of Europe. Hey-ho. I've no complaints about this state of affairs, but you know that one of these days I'll get my act together and somehow arrange to go Up North in the Summer and Down South in the Winter. Heck, the birds can manage it, maybe I can too.