A sunny outlook

We might all feel a sense of congratulation on heaving ourselves into the second half of the year. Yesterday’s solstice went as happily as the day was long, with the sun choosing to make itself visible from Inverness to St Ives. The weather people promise scorching rays next week. No dark clouds threaten Henley or Wimbledon and those who’d rather monitor the World Cup need only worry about a reported shortage of carbon dioxide to enliven their fizzy lager. Yet the nation’s amiable habit of making light of adversity often turns into a perverse demand for adversities to make light of. So a fine June brings jokes about a hosepipe-ban, despite a wet spring leaving groundwater levels high. In any case, water companies should save up stocks to sell us in summer. No matter: let’s simply enjoy the rare old British sun.