Can you believe summer is finally here? Whether winter is mild or brutal, more daylight is always welcome when we finally reach this point in the calendar.  While we may pine for this season during less clement months, summer can still sneak up on us, which is why I’m once again encouraging some strategising as we enter this new time.

One of my favourite parts of summer is a beach reading list.  Whether I’m at the beach of not, I’m always drawn to books that don’t require serious concentration or attention during this period.  In the next couple months, I’m looking forward to a Jackie Collins reread, a short story collection from Curtis Sittenfeld and the new Jennifer Weiner book.  I also can’t wait for the publication of The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory.  If you haven’t read the first two in her series, you’ve got time before the next instalment comes out.

This summer I’m also trying to boost the season with outdoor activities that take advantage of the weather. While I’m on holiday this year, I’m intending to return to an outdoor yoga class that I have enjoyed previously. I'm also committing to 5K Fridays, in the form of cycling, rather than running.

I’ve got my third set of 2019 visitors descending this summer when my two nephews arrive in London for their first transatlantic trip.  I’ve been dreaming of this for a while and will be taking in lots of tourist sites, which will be fun to see again through their eyes.  Let’s hope I’ve done as good a job planning this as I did for a big family holiday to Disney a few years ago!

Other than this, I can't wait for sunset drinks, particularly when I have sand in my toes.

What’s on your summer to do list?