The Summer of My Dreams

So what’s so great about summer? Those ‘lazy, hazy days of summer’? We long for them all through the winter. We anticipate them from the very first day of spring. We dream of sauntering along the prom in the sunshine, ice cream in hand, wearing our favourite summer outfit, with not a care in the world.

That’s the point, isn’t it? ‘Not a care in the world’. It’s not really about the weather, but about how the weather makes us feel. The sun on our shoulders, that gentle breeze blowing our hair, the sounds of the seagulls in blue skies above us and not a worry in our silly heads! It’s a throwback to our school days – end of term, no more homework, no more responsibilities, no more need to be sensible and dutiful, punctual and regimented. No, we can throw the rule book out of the window and relax. Put away our school uniform and be ourselves. For a glorious six weeks’ freedom there are no teachers to demand that our latest science experiments are neatly written up, together with accurately labelled diagrams; no parents to utter those fateful words as we sneak out the door, doled up, made up and raring to go: “Have you done your homework?”; no exams to revise for; no need to go to bed early to be up in time for school. It’s summer! It’s going to be fun!

Summertime! The stuff songs were made of. George Gershwin made summertime famous and poignant. Mungo Jerry, the Beach Boys, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John all made summer a thing to be craved for. That summer magic! Summer days – and oh, those summer ni-ights! The music belonged to an era when life was maybe less serious, job queues and pension funds less pressing and youth was something to be enjoyed – at full tilt.

But that was a long time ago. It’s years since I sat behind a school desk. Years since Mungo Jerry made my heart skip a beat with that carefree summertime rhythm. But I still feel the same. This summer has been so frustrating, so elusive. One day on and then five more back in winter. Never knowing what to wear – is it a day for thick tights and shoes or a day for bare legs and sandals. Maybe I’ll wear my jeans yet again, just to be on the safe side. When can I get out my flimsy sundresses I’ve been saving since last year? And when it finally gets warm it rains!

This year of all years we need some summer. Recession, drought, floods, banking crises (again), paralysis in the housing market, eurozone issues, redundancies, benefit cuts, protests and riots, governments in crisis… We’re feeling the pinch. At least give us some sunshine! Is my mood tied to the weather? Am I a slave to the sunshine? Am I winter-phobic? Well, yes, if I’m honest I am.

It’s not too late – still two months to go before the dream fades. Come on summer – get on with it!