Ah, Summer!

Ah, summer is here! Or is it argh, summer is here! The answer depends very much on whether you like hot and humid weather? Officially, summer starts on the first day of June. Even if you are not one of those who keep up to date with the calendar, the hot humid weather will surely remind you that summer is finally here! This afternoon, the temperature went up to 105 degrees (40* C)! Usually, it doesn't get this hot until July or August, and that it would last for a week or so at most, we were told. A colleague even jested today that they have specially arranged this weather for us so that we can re-orientate back to the weather in Singapore more quickly.

As a result, both temper and temperature have also been rising in the house :)! Despite drawing the curtains during the day to keep the heat out, and switching on the huge ventilator fan at night, the house is still very hot. We find it particularly difficult to sleep in our normal bedroom, which is located on the top floor. So, we shifted down to the basement, which is much cooler than the other areas in the house. If the weather stays this way, I suppose we will be sleeping in the guestroom in the basement. So, we have came one full circle!

In our first week in Happy Valley, we stayed in the basement. And in our last week here, we will also be staying in the basement : )

Incidentally, basement is a common feature of American houses. As far as we are aware, all the houses we visited in the US have a basement. For us, they are wonderful, chiefly because they are cool and amazingly spacious. In most homes, you can find the laundry room and carpentry/workshop in the basement. Others, will convert some part of the basement to a studio, games room (pool table, pinball machines, or playstation), or a playroom for children. Yet, for some, the basement will always be the dark dingy cellar where you dumped all your unwanted stuff.

Another great feature of American homes, at least in this part of the country, is the screened porch – it is kind of a summer room on the side of the house, with walls made of a fine but sturdy mesh to keep out insects. They are a wonderful thing because they provide all the advantages of being outdoors and indoors at the same time. In Bill Bryson’s words, “it will always be associated in my mind with summer”. It’s true – most Americans live out there in the summer. This is where they would do most of their reading, writing, or just relaxing, staring out a sunny garden, watching the playful squirrels, listening to twittering birds and the hum of a neighbor’s lawn, whilst being caressed by a light breeze. And in the evening, dinners would also be eaten in the screened porch too.

Summer wouldn't be summer without the screened porch.

bill bryson - notes from a big country