Over the past week, the UK has been basking in a stretch of glorious weather – the kind of weather that we usually have to board a plane to find. On the rare occasions when we experience this, I find myself saying to The Bloke, “It smells like holiday.”

It’s a difficult thing to describe, but it evokes memories of going out in the evening while on holiday in a Mediterranean country, a combination of heat fading from the day and the subtle scents that come with dry, sunny weather. 

The fact that it is sunny may seem like an odd topic that is deemed worthy of discussing, Normally, UK weather is more of a talking point for its unpredictability and gloom than anything else, where grey skies, rain, and cool temperatures are common throughout much of the year. Even in summer, it’s not unusual to take an umbrella out with you ‘just in case.’ It’s no wonder that when the sun finally makes a reliable appearance, it feels like a national event. So much so, in fact, that on the rare occasions when we get what we consider to be a heatwave, it usually makes the national news.

I love it.

Taking advantage of the sunshine, I have thrown open the windows and turned my attention to the larger household laundry tasks that are often postponed during cooler months. Fluffy blankets, couch throws and other bulky items finally made it through a thorough wash and were hung out to dry in the fresh air. There’s a unique satisfaction in starting the day with a pile of items and ending it with an empty basket, and there are very few things that smell nicer than laundry that has been dried outside. My washing machine isn’t happy with me and took off across the kitchen in protest on a day when I did multiple loads, but it was totally worth it. 

It always brings a smile to my face when I write things things like this – I remember once getting the same sense of satisfaction from drinking and dancing on a night out – perhaps it’s time to accept that I’m middle-aged. 

The Bloke has been busy making the most of the good weather by tidying up the garden. He has a bit of a love/hate relationship with it – he comes from a family of avid gardeners and likes it to look nice, but he hates doing it. Like last year, he has deliberately left a patch untouched at the top, allowing it to stay wild. The bluebells have flourished, adding a splash of colour and attracting bees, and it serves as a reminder that not every corner needs to be perfectly manicured.

We’re also at that time of year where the baby fox cubs of the season are starting to leave their den and explore the wider world. This year, the Vixen has produced three little ones, and they are currently the size of an average cat and still brown in colour. It has been adorable to see them playing around in the wild section at the top of the garden in the early hours of the morning – considering I live in a densely populated area and my garden is very small, we’re very lucky to experience things like this. 

This is a photograph that The Bloke took a few years ago of a fox in our old garden (that was just a few streets away). It’s one of my favourite pictures that he’s taken over the years, and is a good example of what the urban foxes look like round here.

One thing I always notice during warm spells is how much nicer everyone seems to be. Whether it is neighbours pausing for a chat, strangers holding doors open or people simply smiling more, the general mood always lifts. It’s as if the sunshine has reminded everyone to slow down a bit and be kind.  

It has been a welcome change to enjoy good weather after what has seemed like months and months of living in the dark and the cold, being able to take care of a few extra tasks around the house and garden, and notice the small ways it’s brought people together. Hopefully, this stretch of sunshine lasts a bit longer, but even if it doesn’t, it has been a good reminder of how much the little things can brighten everyday life.