Many of us remember our childhood holidays as endlessly dry and sunny, enjoying beautiful weather without a care in the world. Well, you are right, they were! Data shows that as decades pass, seasons are now no longer as easily defined.
The National Trust have said themselves that seasonal predictability is being lost, environmental changes mean that the regular rhythm of the seasons is no more.
Back in the 80’s, being able to throw three t-shirts and two pairs of shorts into the back of Dad’s Ford Corina and know I had everything I needed for three weeks staying with family.
And now? As parents, we hear ourselves having to utter the words ‘just in case it rains’. Jeez, if our family are heading to Scotland, it is more a case of ‘just in case it snows’. And I am not joking.
Thinking back to my yesteryears (late 70’s, early 80’s), this regular and expected ‘great weather’ did influence our behaviours, and the simplicity of our summer plans. I recall vividly, as I am sure many of a similar generation do, the sheer excitement of waking up in the morning, having a quick breakfast (the joy of reading the cereal box back in the day, and finding the toy inside the Frosties – that really was heaven) and skipping out of the door throwing over my shoulder ‘I’m going out to play’. Knowing we would be out until dusk, with only a quick pit stop for, as we say in Scotland ‘a piece and jam’. Translated, a piece is simply a slice of bread. My Yorkshire born wife describes neighbours providing bread and butter, or if lucky, bread and dripping to keep Yorkshire kids sustained.
‘Playing out’ was quite tremendous. Hour upon hour of sport, discovery and adventure. Wimbledon season – tennis net across the street,, watching out for cars. Test Match cricket – back garden, stumps strategically placed, ready for a great day’s play. Goodness, we even replicated the Olympics one day with what can only be described as ‘thinking out of the box’ creativity around the javelin (tree branch), discus (can of coke), hurdles (I can’t remember what we did but it would have been good and we did it). Playing out was certainly an experience, and not only from a sporting perspective. As youngsters we loved an adventure. Exploring wasteland, woods and new terrain. Developing our minds, learning about the world we lived in.
Educational it certainly was, if the ‘magazines’ we found on one occasion were anything to go by. Wow, the only form of written print we’d ever had in our hands was Shoot, The Beano and The Dandy. This particular publication certainly took things to another level, if you get my drift. On reflection, I have no idea why I actually took one of them home to my mum to show her. That wasn’t a great move, with hindsight, and she really didn’t need to see that!
I treasure those days. Lovely memories of discovery, of adventure, of camaraderie. That ease of summer holiday entertainment is lost on us modern parents, we have our clubs and all weather options but, never again will children be able to take for granted the weather that allowed all our plans to come to fruition.
