How to survive rainy summer holidays 

Here we are again. It is a familiar story; the children are at school and we have record-breaking temperatures and enough warm sunshine to ensure that our little lovelies return home sweaty and bad-tempered.

We rub our hands with glee in hope of long sunny days in the garden over the summer holidays. We buy paddling pools, summer clothes and stock up on sun cream. We plan barbecues and camping holidays. Why? Why do we do it?

The start if the summer holidays and the weather takes a turn for the worst. Cloud. Cold. Rain. More rain. It is almost as if the weather is laughing at us. “You crazy British people, what were you thinking?”

Having spent one whole day in the house with five children last week, I can say with absolute certainty that staying in is not the answer. Cue bickering, fighting and crying. We tried games but they didn’t last for long until someone threw a strop because they hadn’t won or didn’t like the game. We tried to watch a film but no-one could agree on which film to watch. It was torture.

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So how do you survive the good old British summer when you have children in tow?

Let’s pretend.  Children believe everything don’t they? Turn the heating on.  Walk around in a flimsy summer top and shorts, wearing shades and keep saying how hot you are and how lovely the weather is. You might catch a chill but it might help get the children in the mood for summer.

Invest in waterproof everything.  I don’t mean those flimsy mac things either, I am talking thick wellies and head to toe waterproofs which pretty much cover your whole body.  They need to be shower proof, wind proof, storm proof and pretty much ‘whatever the British weather throws at you’ proof. It wouldn’t hurt to add in a few coats, jumpers and blankets, just in case.

Ditch the bikini and bag some winter bargains. While we are on the subject of clothes, what better time to buy winter clothes than in the summer.  Coats, jumpers, trousers, anything that keeps you warm are perfect for the British Summer and hopefully you can pick up a few bargains along the way.

Camp in the living room.  Who needs the great outdoor when it’s raining?  So what if the only tent you can fit in the living room is the toddler play tent?  At least you will all keep warm if you are all squashed in for the night like sardines.  Open a few windows, get someone to splash the outside with water and blow a hairdryer against it and it will feel like the real thing.  Only with better toilet and shower facilities.

Burn your burgers.  Indoor barbecues (where everything is cooked in the oven) are so this year darling.  Buy your regular barbecue food and burn it all slightly to give it that authentic barbecue taste and nobody would ever know the difference.  Far less likely to give you food poisoning too, so a win-win on every level.

Swap ice-cream for hot chocolate. These chilly days where you insist on going out whatever the weather can be perfectly topped off with a mug of hot chocolate. Who needs ice-cream anyway?

Paddle in the bath.  Half fill the bath with tepid water, throw in a ball, a water pistol and a few children and hey presto, they can paddle.  It might be a bit of a squish and a few towels on the floor might save your carpet but it works almost as well.

Drink Pimms from a mug.  Pop some Pimms in a mug with a whatever is left lurking at the bottom of the fruit bowl.  If it is in a mug, the kids will assume it’s tea and it might just help you get through those soggy days.  If you don’t have any fruit or lemonade, just drink it neat.  It all goes down the same way and it is summer after all.

Rainbathe at the beach. Sunbathing is so last year.  Pack the wellies and head for the sea, don’t let the rain spoil your holidays and everyone will so benefit from some fresh air and a bit of rain never killed anyone did it?

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