Let’s face it, we’re all a bit down in the dumps about not being able to enjoy the amazing weather we’ve been blessed with these past months. Gone are the days of BBQs in the summer heat with family and friends, no more looking forward to going on your summer holiday where you can just lounge about in the sun all day and picnics on the beach with ice creams are distant memories from the past. But wait… what if you could have just as much fun in the comforts of your home and garden? “How?” you ask me with wide eyes. Well, here are some of my ideas on how to evade the very first world problems we have with the arrival of Summer.
In my house, we have been spending much more time outside in the garden this year due to being in lockdown, working from home and the days of hot sunshine. Sitting and eating outside is quite a summer-y thing for me, so to try and have the best summer you can in these circumstances - why not go and have a picnic in the garden? Dig out the picnic rug, those plastic plates and cups rarely used, and envision yourself sitting in the grounds of a .jpg)
National Trust place, a patch of woodland in the countryside or on a clifftop looking out over the sea instead of being just metres away from your patio. You could even stick a paper umbrella in your drink if you fancy an exotic beverage.
How about venturing out of the house and heading towards some local countryside for a walk, a picnic or even to have an evening snack while watching the sunset? There’s something about being outside on a hot evening that just reminds me of holidays and good memories.
When you go on holiday, the most exciting part (well for me anyway) is having different and exciting food, so why not get in some of the holiday family traditions and order fish and chips, buy some fancy ice cream or even have a cheeky cream tea! You could even sprinkle a bit of sand in your 
sandwiches if you want to go for 100% realism.
To continue this imaginative holiday theme why not put up a tent in the garden and spend the night out there? Maybe have a BBQ, light a small fire and toast marshmallows, watch a movie on a laptop or just sit around reading a book or telling stories together just like you would if you were camping. If you blast some music loud enough you might feel like you’re at something like 'Soul Survivor'.
If this is a bit ‘out there’ or risky for you - have no fear, just migrate inside the house and with the help of blankets, pillows and a few chairs, construct a den in your living room, bedroom or even under the stairs and spend the night there - where it will probably be a bit warmer and closer to the fridge and toilets.
Going to the theatre or going to see a show is a holiday tradition for us. We often find local productions to watch while on holiday so why not head over to YouTube and watch some of the shows that have been premiering recently. Over the last few months, we have watched ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and ‘Cats.’ You can also find virtual tours of places you would normally have to pay a small fortune to enter like zoos, National Trust places, museums and even The Great Wall Of 
China! So instead of going to a museum and having to pretend you like certain things for a tour guide, you can just skip the boring bits and go to the parts you do enjoy! If you prefer a bit of adrenalin and adventure instead of museums go on a virtual roller coaster or skydive instead!
One thing that will always remind me of summer is the comforting smell of sun cream – yes it’s annoying and sticky and a bit of a pain, but it does save you from the discomforts of sunburn and awkward tan lines. When we whipped our trusty pot of sun cream out from its hibernation in the cupboard .jpg)
this year, only then did it begin to feel like summer.
If you have a paddling pool or even a large bucket, if you are desperate enough, pretend you’re at the beach and have a little splash around in the.jpg)
back of your garden, chuck in a plastic bottle to make it realistic and there you have it – a mini ocean.
Hopefully, with a bit of imagination and fun, you can make your endless looking summer a bit more exciting and instead of spending your days doing absolutely nothing, look on the bright side and live on the edge – whether that be by digging out the paddling pool or just by sitting in the shade and finding a book. Set aside a certain week that would’ve been a holiday, force parents and carers away from their computers and take them outside towards the joys of holiday classics like sunburn and sweat and make some memories!
If you would like to find out more about plastics in the ocean here is a link to an Energize in the News session: https://www.energize.uk.net/meeting-plans/188305