Summer summer summer!

Happy holidays everyone!  I’m aware immediately that the exclamation is contentious; there will be some who can’t or won’t be taking any time off, there will be others who may have some time, but glumly won’t be able to go anywhere, and others who frankly can’t stand the season.

Personally I’m a fan - though of course as teaching forms the basis of much of my work, there is a clear differentiation between term time and the long summer break - and I have never stopped appreciating it.

Here are a few things I still love about the summer, despite the cost of living…

The Proms

No - not the Year 13’s annual beer-fest, but the greatest classical music festival on earth, which takes place over the whole of the summer holidays.  I have written about this lots of times, so feel free to look it up, but the essential elements are daily concerts (classical form the majority - but by no means all of the performances) taking place in the Royal Albert Hall (and other venues) with prices ranging from £8 to about £100.  Mostly I am attending on very tight budget, so I drive to our nearest tube station (about 50 minutes away) park for £6 and continue from there.  I also usually pack sandwiches, as eating out is increasingly an unaffordable extravagance…

Eating out, and treats generally…

It would be a foolish person who has not noticed how much all are struggling financially at the moment, but the luxury of time has allowed me to research some activities which don’t break the bank.  I love to eat out, meet friends for coffee, afternoon tea etc, but it has become so fucking expensive that some creativity is required.  I used to enjoy going to coffee bars - and occasional visits to the chains have been a bright spot since the kids were tiny.  A couple of days ago however, something snapped when I paid eight quid for two coffees and then used the unhygienic and disgusting loos.  I will therefore more frequently use flasks (yes - I know it’s an old person thing to do, but I like my own coffee) and will try in addition to visit the many charity connected cafe spaces that are available, which are cheaper, and profits are at least going to a good cause.  We are still National Trust Members (£168.60 annual family membership - with access to  the most beautiful houses, gardens, beaches and forests) and I have never regretted keeping that membership going - even though the kids are now far too old for the play areas.   But they still appreciate the hike in breathtaking vistas, followed by a decent ice cream funded by the bank of Mum and Dad.  We can unfortunately stretch to little more than ice creams these days, as eating out has become laughably expensive.  However, a bit of research reveals there are still some cheap deals; chains have apps with coupons, loyalty cards, very reasonably priced off peak eating (such as Monday nights) all add together to make family meals out just possible - very occasionally.

Visiting long lost friends

This is a treat that has really only opened up recently, as the kids being nearly-grown-up affords more time and a small amount of headspace.  It is fabulous therefore to hook up with the old birds, crash at their houses, laugh our heads off, reminisce, drink as much cheap wine as our ageing bodies can cope with, and talk with foul-mouthed, politically incorrect language.  It’s liberating.

Sports - watching and participating

Having a sport-mad child has inevitably opened our minds more to this and - at the time of writing I have been watching the cricket highlights (can’t afford it live unfortunately), the women’s European cup and various athletic events.  It is in addition also possible to see some of this in the flesh; my ambition this summer is to go to Worcestershire County Cricket ground (I am told a gorgeous setting) and watch some local matches.  There may even be a chance to see some test match internationals - provided we go on the last day when they’re practically giving away tickets.  There is also a plan to get fitter and slimmer, but that ummm… isn’t going all that well at the moment.

Connecting with family - and being able to make a mess in the garden

Admittedly, the mess in the garden was something much more valued when the kids were little; it didn’t matter if their hands, feet and clothes were dirty and they could be as feral as they liked - it was a blissful playground for them.  But something of that spirit is still there when we all get together in Grandad’s garden, drink Pimms and drunkenly attempt to play badminton.

Holidays

I realise for some of you, this whole post could be at best twee, at worst extremely irritating and infuriatingly middle class.  There are plenty of single-parents out there, many more who can only just afford to pay basic bills - let alone twat on about free time and holidays.  Please do just pass this by if you are one of them - having your nose rubbed in it is neither helpful or entertaining.  For those still reading I did however want to mention something about holidays away from home.  Last year we went interrailing and it was a wonderful adventure and worth every penny.  The consequence was that we spent most of this year paying for it and can’t afford to repeat it.  The holiday destination this year is subsequently a Snowdonia cottage (about a quarter of the price) and I can’t wait.  It is so boiling hot right now, that the thought of being abroad feels exhausting and intimidating - as opposed to Wales which feels fresh and green - and a relief.

Libraries, parks and other cheap stuff

I have been increasingly aware that my childhood was full of state-funded activities, with free music lessons and courses.  Of course we were unaware then that we were in the middle of a golden period for the arts and - whilst I live in hope - I can’t see this coming back any time soon.  As a result of these magical memories I have always enjoyed working on courses as an adult and actually enjoy breaking up the school holidays with other work.  Although administrators strive to keep the costs down, holiday music is nevertheless challenging to fund and other pursuits have to be explored.  They are out there however, and the library - apart from being a great resource in itself - provides really useful ‘What’s On’ information.  It is one of the few truly community based, left-wing concepts remaining and it is such a relief that they are still valued - we just have to remember to use them.  Please do - and I sincerely hope the summer holidays provides some respite for you and your families.

Uplifting music of the day: ‘I won’t dance’- written by Jerome Kern and as performed by Voces8.  This fantastic vocal ensemble is currently celebrating their twentieth anniversary and manage to arrange and perform everything with such taste.  Their range is huge and - despite my initial scepticism that they would be able to pull off jazz standards - they manage it by singing simultaneously tongue-in-cheek but still sounding like themselves.  This is a lovely version.

Contemplative music of the day: ‘Guess who I saw today?’ - sung by the wonderful Samara Joy and written by Murray Grand with lyrics by Elisse Boyd.  In the spirit of Nancy Wilson (another classy singer who died in 2018) I have coincidentally heard this twice today and it is a moving of example of great storytelling in song.