Tuesday 8 June 2010

Here comes the sun!
















Those of us who live in cool or temperate climates live such a very different life style, don't we? It was really brought home to me on my recent holiday. Eating outside is something that the farmer and I do about once a year - maybe one Sunday afternoon it might be warm enough and still enough to sit out in the garden with a sandwich.
Summer dresses tend to get washed and ironed and made ready and then only worn on one or two occasions - and usually with a cardi near to hand. Windows get stiff from not being opened, so that when there is a warm day it is a major effort to get any fresh air into the house.
Then we go to Elba on holiday and already, in May, it is hot with pretty much guaranteed sunshine wall to wall. And what a difference it makes.
We sit outside and drink our coffee, we sit on the edge of the sea and eat our lunch with the sea lapping the bottom of our table, we wander along the shoreline doing nothing in particular, look at the fishermen coming in with their boats, look to see what they have caught. Nobody seems to hurry, or worry for that matter - it is all so laid back. I love it but I wonder - if I lived there would I be able to change to that kind of life-style where everything happens at so much a slower pace? I would hope so. It always seems to me that Mediterranean countries have the best of all possible worlds - all the food grows in profusion (having tasted the tomatoes in the photo above I tried to replicate the dish at home but the taste was not the same) and benefits from the sunshine, all the fish is fresh and tasty, and above all you are always warm!





So here I am posting a few holiday snaps to get you in the Medi Mood. Enjoy!

16 comments:

Jinksy said...

I'd take the water, the fish and the produce, but you can keep the overabundance of sunshine - it's not for me! :)

@ctors Business said...

Great pictures, I'd take it all - but I guess I'm just greedy that way :)

Unknown said...

Nothing beats sunshine (with a parasol if necessary) and eating al fresco, Weaver! And people have smiles on their faces!

Reader Wil said...

I love the sun but only if I can sit in the shade. Everything looks so much brighter when the sun shows himself. I hope that you are also much better now! BTW it's raining here now!
So time for umbrellas. What a great idea of your friend to adorn the umbrella of the bride with roses!

Heather said...

Wonderful holiday photos Pat. I remember eating fresh oranges in Spain which had been grown locally - I have never tasted such delicious ones. Last year's tomatoes were disappointing owing to the lack of sun I'm sure. I love the sun even if I do have to sit in the shade! No problems with sunburn today, it has been hammering down with rain and one road we drove down this afternoon was like a river.

Kat Mortensen said...

It would be marvelous if I were near to the Medi, but I think the closest I'll get is Lake Huron.

Still, I enjoyed the photos immensely, (but where are the tomatoes?)

Kat

Mac n' Janet said...

We live in a really warm area and though I enjoy the sun day after day or 90 degree weather wears on you. I use to saw summer was my favorite season but now it's spring.

Tess Kincaid said...

Lovely! Glad to hear all is well after your hospital episode. I've been thinking of you.

angryparsnip said...

Wonderful pictures and glad to know your better.
Thank You for picking up up this hitchhiker... I will keep reading and soon maybe be brave and join the Poetry Bus.

cheers, parsnip

DJ said...

Beautiful photos, Weaver. Makes me want to relocate...

Pondside said...

Warm sounds very good to me! I don't wear a sun dress more than once or twice a season, and always with a sweater or shawl. It never really gets hot here.

Cloudia said...

hospital!?

Do hope you remain hale & happy!



Aloha from (warm) Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

The Weaver of Grass said...

Reading your comments - I largely agree with you. I can only take a certain amount of sun but then, let's face it, we are not used to it, are we? Did it really used to be more sunny when we were young? Do you remember those lazy, hazy days of lying in the long grass staring at the blue sky - the only sound the buzzing of the bees or a solitary aircraft buzzing overhad? Or is that a myth I have concocted?
I do agree about the taste of oranges straight off the tree - the same is true of Morocco - once you have had one our stored ones are pretty tasteless.
Thanks for visiting - this community of bloggers makes such a difference to my life - hope it does to yours too. Have a good day in spite of the rain.

Robin Mac said...

We are never happy with what we have got - I really miss the winter fires and frosts and real change of seasons from my childhood, even though my joints could not cope with that after over 40 years in the tropics! I love the weather we are having at present, cool nights and lovely sunny days. Now I have sunlight in my back garden I even have some tomato bushes planted. Cheers, Robin

The Weaver of Grass said...

NO CHANCE OF SUN HERE TODAY - DULL MISTY AND RAINING.

Jeannette StG said...

Can tell you enjoyed your vacation! In California we have a Mediterranean climate but not culture! The warnings of skin cancer make one walk in the shade whenever possible, and I begin to see more and more hats or parasols in the neighborhood:)
I am spoiled though to to be able to get strawberries and mango and an abundance of veggies throughout the year!