Summer whingers need to get a life

‘Summer is over-rated”. It’s a staple opinion piece headline for the hot months all over the world, including New Zealand. And what’s not to whine about, especially in the middle of a heatwave? Lying down to sleep is a sweaty and frustrating affair as you try to avoid aggravating that sunburned spot on the back of your arm that you couldn’t reach with the sunblock.

Not to mention the mozzie bites and jandal burns on your feet and your boozy neighbours bantering on their deck into the wee hours.

The kids are bored with weeks of school holidays left to fill but all your go-to free entertainment spots are suddenly over-run with visitors and there’s not a car park for miles.

You finally get away for a break and it pours with rain.

Either that or you’re working. Plenty of material there for a “summer sucks” story, but it’s a sad state of affairs when that’s the defining narrative of a Kiwi summer.

Because summer in New

There will also be tragedies and downsides and plenty to whinge about, but why would we?

Zealand is bloody brilliant.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere, we get to start each new year with the feelings of hope and positivity that come with a decent dose of Vitamin D.

The days are long and we get opportunities to take on our New Year’s resolutions in the sunshine most days, even if we have to work.

If we are fortunate enough to live in a holiday hotspot, the surge of visitors is a reminder of how good we have it, all year round.

This was brought home to me by Kiwi friends who live in the UK but are home for a summer sojourn. They have been enjoying the starry night sky, the friendly interactions, the enforced relaxation and slower pace of life, the bare feet, the cricket and the outdoor concerts.

There will also be tragedies and downsides and plenty to whinge about, but why would we?