An ode to English Summers

Let me just say that for a non-native English Summers are an acquired taste.

I come from a country where Summer means a good few months of in-your-face bright blue skies, scorching temperatures and sunny days. You can easily plan a beach outing because in all likelihood the weather will be gorgeous whenever it is you are planning to go.

Now the weather in the UK is far from reliable. Light years away! And you won't get nearly as many sunny or properly hot days as you'd like. It's very likely that despite promises of a fair weather it will rain on your barbecue. And even if it's warm enough to leave the house in short sleeves, by the time you get to your destination you might wish you'd brought an extra layer or an umbrella. Music festivals mean mud, mud and more mud. There will be days, sometimes weeks where you won't see the sun. Some days you might be tempted to dig out a blanket to keep you cosy while you're watching telly.

Nonetheless I've grown to love Summer in the UK. Here's why:

1. It's almost never too hot to sleep with a duvet. Now I hate that feeling of sleeping without covers. Alfresco is simply not for me. When it comes to sleep I like to burrow into a nest of cosiness.
2. The odd properly rainy day is a great opportunity to have a lazy day in, or to enjoy a walk in the rain without all the cumbersome wintry layers of clothing.
3. It's cool enough for most crafts projects. Want to make sock puppets - go ahead! Feel that need to crochet a wooly blanket - be my guest! The weather is rarely too warm to handle fabrics and warm materials, so keep your needles close!
4. Cuddles. Because the weather is seldom really hot, you can carry on with your cuddling and hugging without feeling clammy all the time.
5. Pimms. I love Summer cocktails, but most of all I love a cheeky Pimms on a Sunday lunch!
6. The fact that the weather changes so quickly and so drastically makes you really appreciate the sunny days even more. Every sun ray is a gift and I've learned to enjoy it to the fullest.
7. The variety in weather is refreshing, even if it means being deprived from sunshine for several days in a row. You learn to enjoy other aspects of less favourable weather.
8. The eternal promise of a barbecue (and occasionally the real barbecue). Is it going to happen or will it literally rain on your parade? Even if it doesn't happen, the antecipation is half the fun. And if it all fails you and your friends can always end up in a pub having amazing food and a jug Pimms!
9. It's never too hot for coffee or tea. Enough said on this!
10. You learn that it's just weather. So what if you get wet? So what if it's a tad chilly for a bit? Are you really going to let a silly thing like a bit of rain keep you from going outside and explore your surroundings? Does it really matter what the sky looks like when you can be trekking the countryside and taking gorgeous pictures of all your adventures?