London in five summer memories
A lot of people warn you about the weather when you’re moving to London; they mean, of course, the gloomy skies, the rain and the miserable winter. But they seldom mention the lovely, long summer days.
As we segue into autumn, the leaves start to yellow then crisp and the evenings darken ever earlier. Before the season disappears completely, I’m minded to recap a few memorable moments.
5. The first nice day
Like the sun coming out from behind the clouds (literally!), the first nice day of the year lights up the city. The world is transformed. Grey alleys lose their grim shadows and white stone façades shine. Outdoor tables and chairs are magicked up by cafés and pubs to line the sidewalks. A hint of colour suffuses people and place, and it won’t be long before vivid green vines and flowers are bursting from every concrete crevice. You shrug off your jacket and tentatively expose your arms to the season’s first fresh air … and it feels glorious.
4. BBQs in odd places
The Brits are resourceful and dedicated when it comes to making the most of their summer days. If the sun is out then so are they! You’ll find at least half the city’s population lying in the park in their underwear when the weather is fine (the other half will be at the pub). Cheap portable BBQs are carted everywhere and a little drizzle never dampens the spirits! I enjoyed a few rainy BBQs in unexpected spots this year including a lively afternoon in a car park, sheltering intermittently in the boot of a station wagon.
3. Gin & tonics in the kerb
In any Australian city, taking more than two steps outside a ‘licensed drinking area’ will bring the wrath of the bouncer down upon you. Silly little ropes partition the drinkers from the non-drinkers : a glass of champagne is acceptable on one side, but dangerously irresponsible on the other. Londoners are granted considerably more freedom. Revellers spill out of the pubs in convivial chaos and a warm evening where the sun sets at 10 is the only excuse anyone needs to sit on the footpath, soak up the city vibe and linger over a tall gin and tonic.
2. Ice creams in the office
Every day it gets over 28 degrees, someone goes out and buys ice creams for the office! What better way to celebrate? There’s a sense of camaraderie; a commitment to making the most of summer. Obviously if we did this in Oz we’d get really fat, but here it’s an acceptably rare luxury. And on the subject of offices and summer, there are also ‘summer parties’. Why limit yourself to only one staff party a year?!
1. Surviving the underground
There really is just one major negative to this city in summer. The underground (a subject on which I’ve previously expatiated) is hell in hot weather. The tunnels retain heat like nothing on this planet and most of the lines can’t be airconditioned. The crowd closes in and the humidity rises. No other recent personal experiences come to mind that can push you so far to the edge of sanity. I’m fairly certain that one day I will just break down and scream: get me out of here!!! And that will be my last day in London ….
Country-hopping
Okay fine, a sneaky sixth! I want to end on a positive note after all. When the London pace gets too much, you can hop on a plane and change the view completely in 1.5 hours. A treat at any time of the year, but especially awesome in summer when you can escape to Nice for a dip in the Mediterranean, savour a long Paris lunch under the shady trees of Montmartre, lie by a pool sipping the local red in Umbria or infinite other unexplored possibilities. Guess I’ll have to stick around for another summer!!
