Gallery: the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You’ll wish that summer could always be here
Songwriters: Charles Tobias / Hans Bradtke / Hans Carste
Unfortunately summer seems to have deserted the UK this August, as it did in July! We’re told it’s the jet stream to blame. In July it shifted southwards, flowing directly across the UK and Ireland. This is close to its usual winter position and carries low pressure systems directly towards us. It also meant that warm air was contained across central and southern Europe, creating a severe heatwave, while dragging in cooler air over us.
The result? No one is happy. While we moan about the chill and the rain our southern neighbours suffer in the heat, including some terrible wildfires.
So when Terri asks to see images of the ‘Lazy, Hazy Daze of Summer’ for Sunday Stills this week, I have to go back to my archives. Luckily there are plenty there, some from the UK in more summery days and some from elsewhere around the world. Most are seaside scenes, as nothing shouts summer louder than a beach! But there are a few other summery sights in the mix too.
Disclaimer: not all of these photos were taken in summer months but to me they all capture that essence of warm summer days
Summer in England means …
Having fun by the sea
The Long Sands, Tynemouth, north east England
Beach huts at Lyme Regis, Dorset
But staying safe!
Also on the Long Sands at Tynemouth
Enjoying coastal walks
St Mary’s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, north east England
And boating fun
In the harbour at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
Playing cricket …
Cricket beneath the ruins of Tynemouth Priory, north east England
And wathcing the tennis, at Wimbledon of course
Outside Centre Court, Wimbledon
Festivals in London
Crowds enjoying a parade at a festival by Tower Bridge, London
Wildflowers blooming
Poppy in a wild flower meadow at Syon House, west London
And garden flowers too
Sunflower, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
Babbling brooks
Gunnerside Beck, Swaledale, Yorkshire
And if we’re lucky, blue skies with white fluffy clouds
Oast houses in Kent, England
And when we can’t find summer sun in England, or when winter returns, many seek it abroad …
The beach at Senigalia, March, Italy
Sunbathers at Manarola harbour in the Cinque Terre, Italy
On the beach at Albufeira, Portugal
[my feature photo was taken near here, at Praia do Faro]
Volleyball games on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
[scanned from an old slide]
The beach at Guiones, Costa Rica
Playa Mendihuaca, Colombia
The beach at Ngala Lodge, Gambia
Reggae Beach near Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The epitome of lazy days, at Dunns River Falls, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
And the best part of a hot summer day for me? When evening comes …
Cocktail time at Lagarta Lodge, Costa Rica
48 Comments
equinoxio21
Nice light.
(I tend to avoid the sun now. Got too much during my African childhood. Hehe. 🌞
Sarah Wilkie
I avoid it too, having inherited an Irish fair skin from my paternal grandmother!
equinoxio21
A skin so fair doth the sun fear…
SoyBend
Sorry you have been hit with cooler weather there, Sarah. We are under an Excessive Heat Warning this week. I liked the colorful doors in your Dorset picture and the red soil near the shore in the pictures you took in Gambia.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Siobhan – it seems there are extremes everywhere this summer, sadly. Today we have had constant rain but an improvement is promised for later in the week, and I hope you see cooler weather soon. Those Dorset beach huts are a very traditional sight along the English coast 🙂
leightontravels
A disappointing British summer eh, what can you do? Although obviously preferable to living in Hawaii right now, who’d have thought? What game did you catch at Wimbledon? We were dee-lighted to watch Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the final this year, Sladja probably even more so than me. Appreciate the beaches around the world, especially as we are a long way from any manner of beach here in rural Armenia. Appreciated the musical reference too, I always liked the Andrew Sisters’ cover.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I was very happy with the Alcaraz win – great to see a new name on the trophy and I’m no fan of Djokovic. We saw the Ukrainian Kostyuk beat the #8 Ladies seed Sakkari and Tsitsipas beating Thiem of Austria 🙂
Kirstin Troyer
Beautiful Photos! The beach huts were fun colors.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Kirstin 🙂 Colourful beach huts are a very British seaside thing!
margaret21
Oh yes, summer in a few well-chosen (largely)n beach shots I’ll take the one in Gambia please.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, that’s quite possibly my favourite, at one of our favourite ever hotels! Not big and not suitable for swimming but beautiful to look at and equipped with large day beds perched on the rocks, usable even at high tide!
Brad M
Your story could have also been titled: Life’s a beach. Even though the beaches each look different, they are all very much the same. People enjoying summer and sun and the interaction between water and land. Now, where did I put my sunscreen?
Sarah Wilkie
Ah yes, that would have worked for many of them, although I took my title in part from Terri’s challenge theme 🙂
rosalieann37
I have never visited England when it was hot. People were running around in shorts and I was cold. OTOH when I was in Spain in October, I thought it was pretty warm and locals were bundled up and I was in shirt sleeves.
July here was very hot – but now it is only in the 80s F.
Sarah Wilkie
We do get hot weather most summers Rosalie, but usually only in short spells interspersed with cooler ones – it’s just that this year the cooler spell has been much longer than usual! I know what you mean about your Spanish experience – we went to Namibia in July, their winter, and we found the day times pretty hot (80s F) so were in shorts and t-shirts during the day while many of the locals were wearing woolen hats and padded jackets!
grandmisadventures
great collection of summer days with greens, beach, sun, and outside 🙂 although it’s been so hot here lately that I am feeling ready for some cooler weather to come this way
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I guess I felt the need to see warmer scenes after our less good weather this summer, while you’re in need of cooling off!
grandmisadventures
if only you could send your rainy cold days here, I would happily take them 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Seems no one is really happy with their weather this summer, it’s either too hot or too cold and wet!
VT starship
Sarah, you’ve really captured the essence of summer wonderfully in your selection of photos here. And, I feel it’s a bonus that you added that were taken in other countries! It’s interesting to see how people in other countries enjoy warm summer days. Typically I think many Americans equate summer days with time at the shore/beach, cookouts and picnics, outdoor concerts and parades, boating, summer sports, family road trips, and enjoying their own backyard. As for myself, I can enjoy summer days anywhere, doing anything, as long as the temperature is not oppressive! Love your photos!!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sylvia – lovely to hear from you as always 🙂 I’m glad you felt the summer vibes in this post! Many of the things you mention Americans enjoying are pretty much the same here – eating or drinking outside, BBQs, outdoor festivals and other events, seaside fun etc.
Tanja
Oh yes,we had a very hot July and some storms. Now it is better.perhaps you get summer weather in September?
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, maybe and that would be nice – although I’m travelling a bit then and will miss almost half that month! But we have warm sunshine today and forecast to last till tomorrow too 🙂
Wetravelhappy
That’s what I hear from my sister in London, too. That it’s been raining and she had to wear some sweaters too. Those are very nice pictures of summer by the way, but you know my favourite – it’s that one of Wimbledon! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I’ve had to wear sweaters on a couple of days, but today is warmer and sunnier 🙂 And of course Wimbledon would appeal to you!
restlessjo
My favourites are St. Mary’s Lighthouse and the cricket at Tynemouth, Sarah, but I could be seduced by a Costa Rican sunset. You must be due to jet off somewhere soon?
Sarah Wilkie
That bar/restaurant in Costa Rica was amazing Jo – good food, great cocktails and a view to die for both by day and at sunset! As for travels, we’re going up to Newcastle next week to catch up with family and friends. Then a short break in Paris in early September before I’m off to Chicago later that month for a Virtual Tourist friends gathering. And we have Madagascar booked for the end of October!
restlessjo
Would love to visit Chicago. Madagascar always makes me think of the movie but I don’t suppose it’s anything like that- not that I’ve actually seen the movie 😜🩵
Sarah Wilkie
I’ve never seen the movie either so won’t be able to confirm that, but maybe someone who has will see photos I post here and let us know 😆
restlessjo
🤣❤️
thehungrytravellers.blog
What a non-event summer it’s been back home, huh. We’re not exactly famous for our hot summers but I don’t remember too many when everyone has described it as “like autumn has come early” for about six weeks in a row! Great collection of shots though, reminding everyone back home what summer used to look like. Without doubt my out and out favourite is the cricket match, if there was one single thing I would choose to epitomise the English summer, it would be a village green cricket match in the sun. Possibly with a jug of Pimms in the foreground…
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, it’s felt pretty autumnal recently but after a chilly start today has been lovely and warmer still forecast for tomorrow (before the rain returns!) I did nearly include a shot of Pimms at Wimbledon, but that cricket match was on Tyneside so I suspect beer would be the refreshment of choice!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Mine too, in truth….I actually changed the wording from “ale” to “Pimms” just before I hit send
Sarah Wilkie
🤣🍻
the eternal traveller
How disappointing to have such awful weather in the summer months. For me, summer always starts once the Melbourne Cup is run and the cricket starts on the TV and the radio. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
June was lovely at least 🌞
Anne Sandler
Lovely summer images. It’s too hot here to enjoy summer right now. We have to get out early, but by 10 a.m. it’s time to go indoors. The ocean is the place to be!!
Sarah Wilkie
Such a shame – you’re too hit and we’re too cold!
Marie
Summer? Whats that!!
Apart from those gorgeous beaches, I love the colourful beach huts – we don’t have anything like it here….
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, yes exactly 😂
Terri Webster Schrandt
Wow, Sarah, your archived images look wonderful and tell the story of what a lazy summer should like like! Sorry to read about your gloomy, cool weather this summer. Those beach shots are superb and I LOVE your opening shot of the wave crashing on the beach! Such movement and texture! The Rasta fella looks happy and lazy and your last image of cocktail hour on the beach makes me want to go…now! Thank you for sharing your virtual lazy crazy summer days with us!
Sarah Wilkie
So glad you liked them Terri. It was fun sorting them out and reminding myself of hotter days 😄
Mike and Kellye Hefner
Sarah, you made me want to go to a beach! (And I’m not a beach person.) Great photos of the lazy hazy daze of summer. We are in the midst of a heatwave with triple digit (F) temps, so I’m staying in as much as possible. Viewing your photos is the way I’m enjoying the summer.
Sarah Wilkie
I’m not one for sitting or lying on a beach but I love the sea! I’ll take just a few degrees of heat from you as our temperatures have been very low for August
Amy
Great response to this challenge. I locw these beautiful beach sights, I think I have an image of CT similar to the angle you took. 🙂 The Oast house image is wonderful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Amy ☺️
Sue
Well, great selection as ever, Saraah
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sue ☺️