THE HEAT IS ON

Nothing beats a Kiwi summer, reckons Kate

The prospect of a long, hot summer by the beach is always tantalising. Even though it rains most of December, we cross our fingers and toes that we’ll get lovely sunshine at some point.

I’m always envious of those people who end up somewhere basking in the sunshine despite volatile weather in other parts of the country. But the sting in the tail with our balmier days and nights is the mosquitoes that come with it.

We’ve recently moved to the country and I can tell you that everything is bigger there – the spiders (no good for an arachnophobe like me), the flies and the mozzies. My youngest is allergic to mosquito bites, which always makes summer a slightly more stressful time and frustrating for her. Rope swings over creeks become breeding grounds for mozzie encounters and days at the beach are fabulous until dusk sets in and the mozzies emerge fresh from the sand dunes, ready to nibble at warm flesh.

It’s a constant battle to keep repellent on her and to find a brand not too full of chemicals. We’ve tried the wristband ones you wear, the natural sprays, the essential oils ... all of it. It’s hard to know what works any more, given she’s got most of it on her at any given time.

But apart from bloodthirsty insects, lazy summer days with the kids are glorious, aren’t they? When I was growing up, I always envied the US white Christmas, the festive way they decorated the streets and houses, and the holiday season that was all snow, ice skating and toasting marshmallows by the fire. It all seemed so much more alluring and exciting than sandy barbecues, wet togs and mozzie bites.

I was so excited to have my first real white Christmas when I moved to London, but in a classic case of grass is always greener, I soon understood why the Northern Hemisphere is so envious of us at this time of year.

The snow and sleet were cold, harsh and miserable. Endless train cancellations and roads unable to be driven on were painfully inconvenient when you had to get to work. Layering up in gloves, scarves, jackets and thermals may look glamorous in movies but was actually freezing cold and annoying to walk around in, feeling like a blimp.

Then there was the nuisance of having to take all the layers off every time you went inside because the heaters were turned up so high. Having frost-bitten fingers and toes, and feeling wet and cold, turned out to be not that fun. The pristine white snow never stayed that way for long, either. It soon turned a nasty yellowy brown, providing a slip hazard underfoot.

It wasn’t long before I yearned for sun, sand and sea. And togs, kaftans, bare feet and jandals. So no matter where you are this summer, I hope you’re enjoying it because we truly do live in paradise, even when it rains a bit.