SERIOUSLY THOUGH. Apparently the UK (and London) is supposed to have one of the hottest summers of all time starting from June, yadda yadda yadda, sure guys, we've heard it all before. Head back into the shade with your meteorological predictions of outlandish proportions. NO BUT SERIOUSLY, that might actually happen this year.
The older I get the more of a summer fan I become - I know, hold the phone, woman revels in sunlight - but when I was younger I wasn't into it. And that's despite being a teenager who loved taking exams in the huge gym of my school, the back doors open onto the playing fields, the smell of cut grass wafting in as I tried to remember what photosynthesis was. As a pale person (holla) summer meant sunscreen, legs the colour of spam (mine), sticky public transport situations, and guilt about the fact I was indoors on those few sunny days we get. I never feel guilty about staying in when it's rainy and grey outside. Then there were the holidays with my family to hot places - I can't believe I'm publicly whinging about being taken to incredible places by my hard working parents - but walking around for hours in the city heat was exhausting. My strongest memory of my first visit to New York is a crippling headache brought on by dehydration. I had to have a freshly squeezed lemonade and lie down in the cool darkness of a hotel room to deal with the absolute horror of being a privileged pre-teen suffering from a headache on a trip of a lifetime to the Big Apple. Woe was me.
Nowadays I pine for the sun. I want to see it's big yellow face beaming down on me. I can happily walk around all day in 37 degree heat, especially when there is some pizza and ice cream involved (oh hi Italy). And I'm more excited about warm weather the closer it creeps into the gloom. This outfit from Next is going to be my walking around in hot places go to, the jeans have stretch, the top is light and breezy and the shoes are comfortable, even for cobbles (oh hi Italy). And I've been on the look out for a suede bag that can hold more than a thimble, so this one is a dream. C'mere summer!