Anne hosts this weeks Lens-Artist Challenge – Summer Daze. Here in the UK we’ve been experiencing unusually hot, sunny, summer weather. Reports that temperature and heatwave duration records are being broken seem to be a weekly occurrence.
I’ll use July and August as my reference for this post, which is mid summer here in the UK. They should be our warmest months and coincide with our school summer breaks, which run from the end of July until early September. Holiday time for most families but not us.
It’s the two months we’re normally at home and we’re happy taking our holidays once everyone has gone back to school and work. During this home time we happily take on Grandparent duties, looking after children and minding pets when we’re asked. These months are busy times for us. In fact we have a hedgehog arriving today for a two week stay and two grandchildren arriving tomorrow for a sleepover!
In recent years, summer has also been a time when I make jams and chutneys. We go berry picking with the grandchildren, but go out foraging on our own as well. This summer we’ve already brought home a good crop of blackberries and made jam with that. We also foraged some cherry plums which grow wild in our hedgerows. They became jam as well.
One berry I can’t forage is gooseberries so I had to buy those. They were home grown and made a really nice jam. I’m waiting on home grown apples to ripen now before I start making chutneys.
Mid summer also heralds school sports days, usually held during the last few weeks of the summer term. We get invited to those or fill in if the parents are working and can’t attend. I always get asked if I’ll be partaking if they hold a parents race. I’m always happy to give it a go and I can still run a quick ‘Egg and Spoon’ race.
Cooling off in the summer usually involves water. We live just over the border with Wales and the River Wye. We quite often walk there or occasionally hire canoes and paddle down the river. Our recent hot summers and droughts mean that the river levels are really low and on this trip we ground out several times on our way down to Monmouth.
I’ll wrap it up there with a reminder of how our usual UK summers pan out. It’s quite a British thing to moan about the weather. I’ve heard lots of moaning about the heat during this recent spell of good weather. Here’s a reminder of the alternative.
Thank you to Anne for hosting this weeks challenge. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2026 – All rights reserved.
Steve Hyde 
What a great set of photos and lovely narrative about your summer, making jam😋 loved the smile on your grandson’s face and the lady with the umbrella on the beach. I think I’ve seen similar one from you before, I enjoyed it then too.
Thank you Ritva. Yes, that beach has provided me with a few good weather pictures over the years 🙂
Love that ‘wrap-up’ shot. And a fine summer you’re having.
Thank you Tish. It rained today lol 🙂
Ooh, lucky you. We only had a spit in the night.
What a great response to this challenge Steve. I loved your narrative and images. The melted ice cream was so typical of summer heat. I loved the smile on your grandson’s face. I’ve never tasted gooseberries or the jam. And to end it with that determined to have a day at the beach was just great!
Thank you Anne and thank you for hosting. I’d never tried gooseberry jam but it’s really nice. I’ll make it again next year if I can find the gooseberries 🙂
Now, if I’m at a farmer’s market and see gooseberries, you know I’m going to have to try them!
Yes, the alternative is not nice either. I remember one of my first time up to the highlands in August, me still thinking that it’s summer. I had to buy a warm waterproof jacket when I got to Oban, I was freezing! Not this year, apparently 🙂
I love the ice cream shot and the last one is fantastic!
Thank you Sofia. It’s not unusual for us to be wearing hoodies in July/August, especially in the evening. 🙂
Looks like a great summer Steve, from melted icecream to jackets on the beach, quite the variety of weather. I’ll put in my order for jam 😊 Maggie
Thank you Maggie. Your more than welcome to a jar of jam or chutney if your passing. I’d even bake you some scones. There’s nothing better with jam 🙂
Fun summer tour of your life in the UK Steve. Kudos on being so engaged with the grandkids, and homemade jam. Wow!
Thank you Brad. I think we’re juggling both tomorrow. We’re giving them the option of blackberry picking in the morning and then they can make their own jam to take home and give away. 🙂
Enjoy!
Hi Stephen
We love your last picture 👍 👍
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Steve, your summer daze covered it all. The photos with the ice cream and paddling in the river were two of my favorites. Now, your grandson photo is the best in the gallery. Perfect shot!