Today is the Summer Solstice and as such is the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. Around the world and throughout history rituals and celebrations have been tied to the solstice for its astronomical and spiritual significance and here in Britain thousands of people gather every year on the night before to wait for the sun to come up over the stones at Stonehenge.
I'm always in awe of Stonehenge every time I visit and it never ceases to amaze me how on earth those stones were put there in the first place! Lovely place to visit and looked after by English Heritage
I don't know about anyone else but I seem to recall my childhood summers as being just that, sunny days and blue skies. The school summer holidays seemed to go on forever, the days were long and us kids at 7 or 8 years old would spend hours playing over the local park or crabbing on the beach, playing by ponds, jumping across dykes, swinging from trees and only going home to grab a bite to eat and to let mum know that we were okay. I actually think she would have had a fit if she'd known where we'd been hanging out all day but we came to no harm.
I remember balmy summer evenings when our parents used to natter with the neighbours over the garden fence until all hours, when the gnats were biting and the bats were flying low and the knowledge that we had the whole summer ahead of us. Was it really like that - did we have sunshine all summer, did it never rain or am I just romanticising? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Today in Essex its absolutely gorgeous, the sun is shining and the skies are blue - for how much longer I've no idea but people keep telling me to make the most of it!
See you soon
Patricia
PS - welcome to my new follower Ulrika, nice to have you on board.
Dear Patricia, I too remember Summers as you've recounted - days at the beach, donkey rides, candy floss and when at home den building in lanes and fields. We went everywhere on our bicycles wearing hot pants or shorts! Happy days!
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A slightly different memory for me, my grandparents lived in Hampshire and we visited Stonehenge when I was about 8-9 years old, I can vividly remember being able to climb on the stones, and chase my small sister in and out and around them. I think my Mum may even have a photo of us sitting on them.
ReplyDeleteI too have memories of endless hot summers in the village I grew up in. Playing in the garden with friends and making a tent out of mum's clothes horse and an old blanket. We made mud pies and played bread shops with them. We cycled round the lanes. We also used to go around the woods and down to the brook with jam jars to catch little fish and sit on the wall of the sheep wash and dangle our feet in the cool water. Happy days! I do remember some wet seaside holidays though in the days when you couldn't go back to your B&B until tea time:)
ReplyDeleteI have similar childhood memories of summer I'm hoping that despite the abysmal weather we have had so far this year (aperture from today which has been perfect) that my children will have similar memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Patricia.Its nice to remember your childhood, I wonder if we just forget the bad bits and just remember the long hot sunny days where we played out morning til night only coming back for meals? That is mainly what I remember from my childhood.Hope the exams went well!
ReplyDeleteDear Patricia, I loved reading this post. I do not know if summers were that grand, but in my memories, yes, they were. Bike riding, roller skating on the sidewalks, climbing trees, laying in the grass and watching the clouds roll by . . . I was lucky enough to have a huge park and zoo only a mile or so from our house. We would walk through the woods and go in through the back, first coming to the tower on the hill. There was this wonderful stone observatory that had circular stairs and looked out over the lake. All us kids would play pirates and climb to the top and watch for enemy ships. Being a child was wonderful. My heart goes out to anyone that had a troubled childhood, mine was marvelous.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't get an email with my reply to your comment about the transfer paper and Graphic Fairy . . . go back and visit my blog again, it's there waiting. I wish we could have played as children. I think we would have been great pals. Connie :)
Of course summers were always sunny when you were a child - I can't remember being stuck indoors because of the rain - perhaps our memories are selective and we only remember the best parts. I loved the freedom of the summer holidays and remember going out on my bike all day exploring - I feel sorry for kids these days - they don't know what they are missing.
ReplyDeleteIt's more autumnal like then Summer down here on the south east coast - I'm still waiting and hoping.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for a beautiful weekend,
Nina x
How wonderful that you're finishing your degree! I have been a part-time college student for many (MANY!) years and still slog along. Graduation for me will probably be in 2014 because I'm still part-time. Love hearing about other "non-traditional" students (I hate that term!) At least we keep plugging away. Good luck and I enjoy your postings.
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