It's Summer, Innit!?
Goin' on hiatus / holiday in July & August
Summer arrived in London last week, after the wettest winter and spring that I can recall in my 12 years here. (I’ll resist the urge to prove my Britishness by complaining about the weather any further!)
The mood in London dramatically changes with the sun; people are friendly, parks and patios are full, everything in The Big Smoke is a bit easier. Sure, travelling on the Tube becomes more cramped, sweaty and smelly, but the high number of beautiful parks in London makes the uncomfortable commutes worth it. As far as I can tell, drinking in parks is the great British pastime — more than baking, cricket, classism, etc.
Summer is by far my favourite time of year. I’m a terrible sleeper in all seasons, but I don’t mind the sun peaking through my curtains at 4:45am, even if I’ve only just fallen asleep. The sight of tanned skin, the smell of sunscreen, the taste of a frozen margarita or fluorescent Aperol spritz. These sensory experiences belong to summer, and I can’t get enough. It’s the end of June and I’m sad because of how fast time is moving. I am especially excited for August — many festivals and travels with my loved ones — but I know it’ll be over in a blink. Please, September, don’t come too soon!
Speaking of Sept, I’m putting this newsletter on hiatus for two months, starting now. Since launching Soundtracks to Adventure at the end of Feb, I’ve published every Sunday for 19 weeks , and I’m generally happy with how it’s gone — but I need some time to reset, write, and, most importantly, have more adventures.
Forthcoming highlights of my summer: visits from two dear friends (one from Canada, one from New Zealand) and my eldest sister’s family, big gigs in London and Margate, the finals of Wimbledon and UEFA Euro 2024 — my two favourite sporting events, ending on the same weekend! — and multi-day festivals in Dorset, England and Lisbon, Portugal. Somehow I’ll squeeze in my busiest summer, work-wise, in years. Yikes.
I crafted this playlist last summer to capture the feel-good music I was digging then. A soundtrack to the long, bright days and serotonin nights of summer. I hope you play it poolside, at a party or BBQ.
I’ll be back on 1 September, hopefully with more sun-kissed tales and transcendent tunes to share. (P.S. for my paid readers, your subscription will pause until then.)
See you in the sun,
Josh