It is not quite 7am and the display on the main street reads 23 degrees as I stroll past on my way back from the bakery with a baguette in my hand. Still sleepy from the muggy nighttime heat, I try my best not to scratch the mosquito bites that tingle on my neck and the back of my leg. I’m getting good at it, finally. You see, I am not on holiday. This is my life, this summer so strange to me.
Oppressive heat, intense humidity, thunderstorms, eating meals outside, afternoons at the ice-cream parlour, mosquito bites, the school closing because it is too hot to teach / be taught, day trips to water parks and lakes for swimming – these are the memories my children will have of summer. A summer so strange to me.
Oppressive heat, intense humidity, thunderstorms, eating meals outside, afternoons at the ice-cream parlour, mosquito bites, the school closing because it is too hot to teach / be taught, day trips to water parks and lakes for swimming – these are the memories my children will have of summer. A summer so strange to me.
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| The local pool |
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| After school on a Wednesday |
My childhood summers were filled with playing in the garden, trips to the beach on the sunnier days, believing that if the temperature rose to 20°C you could fry an egg on the footpath, eating Choc Ices, the pain of sunburn and the excitement when the tar would melt on the road from the heat.
My children are growing up as the kind of children I only ever encountered at campsites in France – the kind that have a slight tan year round, the kind that speak two languages and run round in the nip without a thought as to why they should wear swimming togs. The kind that eat foods we’d never seen then and who aren’t at all bothered by temperatures above 25 degrees.
Whereas as a child I looked forward to two weeks of outdoor swimming pools, water slides, the smell of suncream and to eating scoops of ice-cream in exotic flavours like pistachio or mango, their lives are like that every day of summer from May to September.
Yet still they look forward for months to their couple of weeks in Ireland. They plan trips to the beach in their wellies and raincoats, hoping to see horses gallop in the waves. They want to visit Lough Conn, after which one of them is named. They beg to be allowed go back to the Viking exhibition in Dublin and want to go to Tayto Park again. They want to munch cheese and onion crisps and lick 99s “like last time”, to play with their cousins, go swimming with Grandad and eat Nana’s meatballs. “How many sleeps Mammy?”, they ask every evening, longing for their Irish summer, so strange to them. Strange and wonderful.
I’m linking this post up to Twinkly Tuesay and The Truth About.
I like the sound of your summer, mine so far has been filled with drizzle and grumpy kiddos 😉
Sounds beautiful! I'm a bit jealous! I too have fond memofies of holidays in france… I bet the children love all the time spent in the pool! Seems funny to be looking forward to cold ahnd damp weather but I guess it's the change of routine (and seeing grandparents) that they love so much! #thetruthabout
This is written so beautifully 🙂 I love both, Ireland and Germany. But then ofcourse I only now Ireland while having 20 degrees and up…I just was lucky with my timing.
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Lovely post!! I can completely relate too!! I'd love to have you join in with my linky some time too it's called #myexpatfamily 🙂
Popping over from #twinklytuesday
WoW! Makes me so envious that I am not bringing our little ones up in the warmth. It sounds idyllic! I lived in Oz for a year and the standard of living made me always want to return with kiddies! Well done for living the dream! 🙂 #TheTruthAbout
I do feel bad sometimes, complaining about the heat when I know how rotten it is at home and in the Uk in summer oftentimes. But in the high temperature they can get grumpy too, if that is any consolation 😉
A few years ago we were actually standing at a waterpark at 11am of the day we were flying to Ireland, it was 35 degrees and we were dying for the cool Irish air but felt guilty at the same time knowing that so many of our friends would kill to be here.
Sounds absolutely amazing! Hubby & I are contemplating a move to the seaside, which I know will still be in the UK and dependant on our weather but I think it will still be a good thing to do for the kids xx #thetruthabout
You did well to get those temperatures in Ireland 🙂 Thanks for stopping by here 🙂
Thanks! How have I been missing #myexpatfamily? I looked it up and hope I remember to join next month.
Thanks Jess. It has its downsides too, but I suppose everything does. The Aussies have a great life too. I loved the ferries in Sydney. Best form of public transport ever!
Thanks for popping by.
Oh wow Renee! Life by the sea would be fantastic…the air, the view out to the horizon, all those opportunities for paddling, sand castles, finding shells, learning about biology, fishing and generally mucking about with water. Ideal for happy children if you ask me 🙂
Lovely post! You're children will definitely have wonderful summer memories – the best of both worlds 🙂
That sounds like a fantastic summer full of great activities and lots of fun for the kids. #TwinklyTuesday
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Yes indeed, the best of both worlds. Thanks for stopping by and commenting x
Mostly it is fun but we all tend towards grumpiness when the humidity soars to unbearable levels, like today. Thanks for popping over Rob.
Awww what a lovely summer you are having there! I almost thought that you are talking about Asia and not France haha. This is how we are in the Philippines. Mosquito bites at night, warm weather and fresh break from the bakery in the morning, every morning.
Lovely read =)
#twinklytuesday
Ha ha! We are actually in Germany but on the border to France. It is one of the most humid areas of the country.
Thanks for popping by and leaving a comment 🙂
What awesome memories for the boys!
#thetruthabout
I love this weird and wonderful role reversal Fionnuala! I would like to visit more of Germany – its such a huge country isn't it (for Europe) and I bet there are vastly differing regions – your bit sounds pretty amazing though! My 16 year old neice just came back from a week in Berlin with her school – I think she is better travelled and more cosmopolitan than me! Thanks for linking up #thetruthabout X
I certainly hope so Jenny 🙂
Aw thanks Samantha.
Yes, Germany is very varied in terms of attitudes and scenery – from the north which is reminiscent of England to the Black Forest, the mountains and lakes of Bavaria and the culture shock of the former East Germany.
I bet your niece had a great time in Berlin. It is a very vibrant city.
Ah, the strangeness of raising our children in a different land. I spent my first 8 years in the UK (Oxford, Aberdeen, and London) and the next 10 in Bangladesh. My children have only known the United States, specifically Texas. High temperatures (30-40 degrees) and mosquitoes like Bangladesh, yes, but the freedom to wear shorts, interact with strangers, and explore the outdoors that comes with living in the First World. Thanks for linking with #TwinklyTuesday.
Sadia it must be great to allow your children freedoms you didn't have as a child. The hot temperatures can be hard to bare for me but the boys don't seem too bothered by them.