It’s starting to heat up here in Rome. At 10am this morning, the temperature had already hit 27 degrees, the sky was a deep blue without a cloud to be seen and the sun was beating down. Sounds like bliss huh? Hmmm, sadly not. I’m sure I’m a lone voice with this opinion but I just can’t stand the summer.
Seriously, what is there to love? Sweaty thighs, burnt noses, nagging at kids to wear suncream, hundreds of mosquito bites (I’m the person invited to summer barbecues just to act as the mosquito buffet) and clammy nights where you can’t sleep? Wearing vests and t-shirts that reveal flabby bingo wings and muffin tops? Weeks of preparation – bikini line and leg waxes, pedicures, diets and, gulp, exercising??? No, no, no.
Give me a breezy autumn afternoon strolling in the woods, beautiful russet leaves dancing all around. A crisp, icy February morning when your breath billows out like your grandad puffing on his pipe. Cosy jumpers, roaring fires, walks along a deserted beach with the waves crashing on the sand, DVD days where you don’t feel guilty about not leaving the house. Getting fat and covering it all up with extra layers. Christmas!
Fortunately I’ve found a secret weapon against this hot weather. I go to the coolest place in Rome. Not cool as in hip and happening but as in it’s actually chilly. Goosebump raising, nerp stiffening, teeth chatteringly cold. Yes, it’s the ice-rink. I’m in my shorts and t-shirt whilst everyone else is wrapped up in coats, scarves and the odd woolly hat. I don’t even ice-skate. I just take my deck chair, book and flask of tea and enjoy it like other nutters people enjoy the beach. So that’s where I’ll be all summer: eating my sandwiches without added sand, ensuring my lily-white skin doesn’t get the slightest hint of a tan and, best of all, not sweating.
Anyone agree with me or can you just not get enough of the sun??
BARBED WORDS 