After living in Phalaborwa for ten years, I’m no stranger to heat. We used to often take a dip in the pool after school just to cool down a bit, then race into the house when we heard the familiar theme music of 7de Laan.
When I was in high school, we had to walk on the sidewalk and cement edges of the road to avoid the melting tar sticking to our shoes. Since temperatures exceeded 40˚C fairly often, most pupils would find a teacher willing to let them stay in their airconditioned classrooms during break early on in the year and try to stay in their good graces.
Despite my tolerance to heat, I must say that I’m not a fan of these current high temperatures. Mostly due to the lack of airconditioning in my home and the absence of a pool in my yard.
To help others in the same position enjoy summer and all the fun things that come with it, here are my top five reasons why summer is great:
- Ice cream and other frozen treats
Ice cream, ice lollies, sorbet and frozen yoghurt are some of the reasons why I love summer. They’re not only delicious, but they can also help you cool down, lift your mood and in some cases even be healthy for you. Check out a few of my recipes for home-made frozen treats here.
- Swimming
The best way to beat the heat is to dive into an ice-cold (or mostly lukewarm) swimming pool. Buy an inflatable one, join a gym with one, go splash in the municipal pool or make arrangements with a local school to use theirs. Swimming is also one of the best ways to get fit, which can help with your goals of slimming down and being healthy.
- Abundance of fruits
Fruit like watermelons, litchis and mangoes are easy to find during the summer and tend to be a lot cheaper. They’re great as a snack between meals, part of a smoothie or eaten straight from the peel. Many of my happiest childhood memories include munching on slices of sweet, juicy watermelon by the poolside.
- Short, dresses and sandals
Contrary to winter, when I tend to wear several layers, summer is the perfect time to wear all of those light dresses, funky shorts and gorgeous sandals. The way you look in these items also serves as a motivation to many to start (or continue) living a healthy lifestyle and stay (or get) fit.
- A few more hours of sunlight
With the days stretching a bit longer in summer, you can get home for work and still go for a jog, work in the garden or relax outside before night falls. The hour or so of extra daylight is a great help for joggers, as it feels safer and they are more visible to vehicles.
