The nights are closing in again so summertime is here again kids

As children we were so excited about the start of the school holidays that no-one ever queried why the long summer break only got under way one month after Midsummer's Day.

- with Mike Hill

Had we done so then there were legitimate questions to ask as to why the best time of the year for playing out was a full four weeks past its halfway point before we were free from the shackles of lessons.

Although the countdown to the holidays was filled with sports days, fetes and classes on the playing field, we were duped into thinking that summer only got under way on the day that term-time ended.

This thought came to mind, several decades too late, while out walking the dog earlier this month and noticing the plumpest of blackberries were already bursting from the bushes.