Summer solstice

Over the weekend the subject of solstice arose. My partner and I had differing ideas about what date it was. A little research conducted on that font of all knowledge Google, confirmed Solstice occurs between June 20^th and 22^nd. (which encompasses what we both thought!) Here in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice indicates the start of summertime with the passing of the longest day.

Most of us were grateful when the sun finally came out last week to raise the temperature beyond the need for remaining inside with the heating on. This includes me although I don’t find it nearly as exciting to know the days are now shortening as I do when the days lengthen in December! As a summer baby, I am a lover of sunny outdoor days. Although I do enjoy sunshine from under the shade giving properties of a parasol these days! Or a hat at the minimum!

Apparently, the reason the hottest days of summer often occur after Solstice is something called ‘The lag of the seasons.’ This is because the Earth needs time to warm up following a long Winter. I can relate!

And I am thrilled that the sun seems to be putting in something of a more regular temperature raising presence right now. I am always at my happiest when I can spend hours outside amidst nature without getting wet or frozen.

I was particularly pleased about the absence of rain and the presence of sun over the weekend. We had tickets for Nile Rogers and Chic at the beautiful venue that is Dalby Forest. There we were surrounded by greenery and trees under the great big, blue and sunny sky.

As it was well organised, it wasn’t too painful going through the necessary checks to gain access to our area. It was more of an experience that yielded great amusement than pain. I’ll never forget the wide-eyed expression on the ticket guys face when my partner told him we had VIP tickets! It still makes me chuckle every time I see his face. I think after allowing the words, ‘you’ve got VIP tickets?’ to fly forth from his mouth, he did manage to hold back from adding, ‘are you sure?’. I’m not sure what he saw as he looked at us with those wide eyes, but it tickled me no end! And I took it as a compliment!

My partner was further amused when I got stopped for my bags to be searched while he didn’t! He suggested that my sunglasses may have made me look like I was hiding something. I was; my eyes from a sensitivity to light plus pollen! Not alcohol! Nearly twenty years have passed in an alcohol and haze free manner without looking back!

But entry issues aside, it was an all-round fantastic experience. The company, the surroundings, the sounds, the vibes … the whole shebang!

So following a fabulous but full on weekend, today is a people free, nature filled reset day. I’m chilling in the outdoor lounge amongst the birds, the butterfly’s and the ginger boy. The birds continue to provide the background music. Whereas the daisies continue to dazzle me from the foreground. I am amazed by their resilience. Every time I mow them down, they come back multiplied. You can’t keep a good daisy down. But alas, a momentary lapse of concentration meant I mowed down my random pansy. I hope it will return.

This is summer … I absolutely love it!

(Apart from the hay fever and mosi bites)