10 on the 10th: Things I Love or Hate about Summer

Dear friends. Here's a first. Creating a blog post, on holiday. And trying to do it on a tablet rather than my beloved PC.

It's an easy post technically because pictures aren't essential,  and this month's format is simply state 10 things you like or dislike about summer.

10 on the 10th is the brainchild of Marsha from Marsha in the Middle and Leslie from Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After. Here are my 6 likes, and 4 dislikes. 

1. SUMMER HOLIDAYS

I love a summer beach holiday.  When I was a kid we had three caravan holidays, where we booked a static caravan on a site. Then, at the age of 13, the unspeakable luxury of a week in a hotel in Bournemouth.  None of us had ever stayed in a hotel before. Being the 70s, there was a gong to summon everyone to dinner, and the starter was sometimes fruit juice or even worst, fan of melon. On the Thursday, the guests' dining room was full with everyone watching Top of the Pops. "When will I see you again" (Three Degrees) was no 1.

I don't really know why but there were no more beach holidays until my first honeymoon,  when I was 26  (Corfu, the first time I flew on a plane). 

Now, I love the annual beach holiday (lockdowns permitting!), usually in Greece: swimming and relaxing all day; a little sightseeing,  and the ritual of preparing for dinner.

2. SCHOOL'S OUT 

Of course this doesn't apply to me now, but I still remember the joy of the last day of term and then rushing home for six weeks off. At my stuffy grammar school there was always "final assembly" where we sang a particular hymn that no-one knew. 

I have fond memories of doing carefree things in the holidays. Exploring, building dens, visiting "the cave" (a disused tungsten mine) and going on day trips. Nothing fancy, perhaps swimming at the lido pool on Plymouth Hoe. On one occasion my mum and her friend Pam took us on a train to Dawlish. That was wild. 

3. SONGS

There are certain songs I always associate with summer. "Summer Breeze", the Isley Bros, and "Woodstock", Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Then there are songs from the 1970s which automatically transport me back to teen years, the BBC Radio 1 Roadshow on Plymouth Hoe and the funfairs: "Beach Baby," First Class, and "Show Me the Way," Peter Frampton.  Not to mention albums like Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs. 

4. SUMMER GARDEN

I love the roses and many other summer plants and flowers. I have 8 roses in a bed at the front of the house and two in the back garden. 

5. LONGER DAYS 

The long balmy evenings are lovely for activities like open air theatre or concerts. 

6. SUMMER FRUIT AND VEG

Asparagus, Jersey royals (new potatoes) and strawberries are three things that are best in summer. Also blackcurrants.  You can only get those grown in the UK for a short period of time, which makes them special. 

7. [DON'T LIKE] TOO HOT TO SLEEP

Air con isn't really justified in the UK because we don't have prolonged hot spells. That's not to say it doesn't get hot. This week it's around 29/30 degrees in London, the same as in Greece, where I am now. Not having AC is unbearable at night. I've got a fan but it's not quite the same.

8. [DON'T LIKE] SUMMER CLOTHES

I don't hate summer clothes but I'm ambivalent about them. They don't make my heart sing. There's no need for layering, it's all about being cool temperature-wise. 

Winter has luxurious fabrics like cashmere and velvet, the boots, the coats, the gloves and hats. Summer has shorts, t-shirts and dresses, the latter mostly available as shapeless tents for the last couple of years.

9. [DON'T LIKE] SUN PROTECTION CREAM

I grudgingly use SPF most of the year now, although on a rainy winter's day I don't usually bother. In summer despite my extreme care at using SPF50, my facial pigmentation gets darker and more noticeable.  I hate it! 

10. [DONT LIKE] NOISY NIGHTS

I don't want to sound too churlish or "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells," but late night partying in neighbouring gardens is not my favourite.  It means closing the windows, so it's even harder to sleep in the heat. I don't begrudge anyone the occasional barbecue or birthday party, but not when it's too often and late at night.

So that's my 10 on the 10th. Love to know which resonated with you. 

Sharing this post with: #SpreadTheKindness  and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Rena at Fine Whatever,, Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Link Up Pot Pourri at My Bijou Life, Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle

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Next month I'm a guest contributor and will be posing the questions!