I am unfortunately old enough to remember the summer of 1976 very well. The scenes of dry reservoirs with cracked mud bottoms reminiscent of Africa and the mounting hysteria caused by water shortages especially in Britain made it such an unusual time. We in Ireland had our water shortages too but hosepipe bans were unheard of in rural Ireland in the seventies which made what was going on in England all the more exotic.
I’ve been thinking about 1976 and all that because of our excellent summer in Cork this year. We seem to have had sun since late May broken by very few periods of rain and none of them prolonged. Quite a change from last year’s July and August which had day after day of relentless rain showers barely five minutes apart it seemed.
Good weather makes such a difference to ones outlook on a day and makes it more bearable to get on with the mundane everyday tasks knowing that a nice weekend awaits you or a sunny walk at the end of a stressful day. Suddenly the area in which you live takes on a slightly different aspect and one looks at it in a different light, literally in some senses. This summer has been made up of picnics, walks in the woods, days on the beach, barbecues and lots of outdoor time.
I have been to Wales a number of times this summer and never tire of the fabulous scenery on the Gower peninsula although I haven’t had much of a chance to stop and take it in. Next weekend I will spend in Pembrokeshire sailing with friends and am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will hold out for just a little bit longer.
Its not much to ask for and it makes all the difference.
