Seasons to be cheerful – it a good summer

ARMED with a giant glass of iced water, and cooled by an electric fan, I am writing this column on yet another wonderful baking hot day.

Outside, the garden is wilting in a 30 degree heat, but still people are complaining about the ‘dreadful’ summer.

Why do we cling to our national obsession that, even while living through a glorious August, we still have plenty to complain about?

Yes, it rained briefly a couple of days ago, but that doesn’t make it a bad season, as I have heard several people say recently.

This year we have managed barbecues, many outdoor drinks, and even open-air theatre, without having to do the usual scarpering indoors.

At one performance years ago, the rain was so bad at an outdoor Shakespeare play that Romeo and Juliet had to go inside and towel themselves down in the middle of a performance, before returning to the stage.

Swathed in rugs and macs and scarves under a sheltered stand, we in the audience had to suspend disbelief as poor old Juliet died all over again. All very British.

I may be indoors as I write this, but I ventured out earlier, first for a coffee in the shade with a friend, then with Mr F in a hot car (thank goodness for air conditioning) to The Dogs’ Trust in Harefield, to drop in some old bed linen.

Did you know they welcome towels, throws, quilts, pillows, cushions etc for the dogs to enjoy a bit of home comfort? I don’t think they actually make up king size beds for them though…

We also deposited five bags of stuff at various charity shops, and chucked more stuff at the Civic Amenity Site (aka the dump), only a few yards away from where the dogs are waiting to be recycled.

Yes, we’ve been having another clear out; the subject of many column inches by me and others.

I just wish we could declutter our minds from all the over-used mantras and phrases that clog up our heads and our national psyche. One of the newest, when people are asked for a comment is: “It is what it is.” WHAT?

The dreaded ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ is still with us too – and I’ve been moaning about it for years.

And now people complaining about bad summers (even when it’s a good one) is getting my goat.

Let me know your irritations.