I find summer an odd time.  Part of me likes it - the longer days, the bright light - but most of me thinks I’m not really built for it.  I do like going to the water, and I like swimming, but I’m not really one who feels comfortable lying around in my swimmers all afternoon, soaking up the sun, being out and about in the heat.  Maybe I was for a short time when I was a teenager...but then we had a pool at our house then so it was easier to achieve that kind of feel without actually having to go out in public.  Actually as a kid, growing up in the tropics, I think I did nothing but swim and play in the sun.  My skin was nut brown, to wit:

That was me, age 9 and living in Port Moresby, PNG.  I spent as much time as I could out of doors, and a lot of that submerged in a pool.

I much prefer autumn, when the days are still pleasant but the evenings are cool, when the humidity drops.  I like being able to wear layers, nice jackets and scarves.  It’s easier to feel well put together when you have layers; when all you have is a swimming costume there’s a lot less to work with.

That said, summer in Sydney is always an interesting time.  There’s a lot going on, entertainment-wise.  The Sydney Festival starts tonight, and January is usually dotted throughout with great music, theatre and performance art.  Karen, Ben and I saw Andrew Bird at the Opera House last week, which was spellbindingly wonderful and made me want to do nothing but play music forever (though of course I haven’t played a skerrick since then...huh).  Going to check out the Festival First Night tonight, with no plan but just to wander through the city and see what’s going on.  Guan, M, mum and I are going to see The Arrival next week, based on Shaun Tan’s beautiful book and at the Carriageworks, fast becoming one of my favourite venues.  And when Karen returns from overseas, we’ll go and hear Bernstein’s Candide at the Domain.  Lots to look forward to!

But mostly all I feel like doing is lying around and reading.  Which is okay if you’re on holidays, but being a freelancer and working at home is problematic in that regard.  I was planning to take time off and go somewhere, but hampered by lack of money and a bit of a health hiccup, I didn’t.  And so the days are a strange combination of seeing people, going out and doing things, plugging away at work I have on the boil and feeling vaguely listless.  I keep losing track of what day it is.

And now...I don’t know how to end this disjointed post, so I’ll just stop.  Hope you’re enjoying your summer!  (and if you’re in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’re surviving your snowy winter!)