9 reasons to be excited for the arrival of summer.

My year has two rock solid highlights.

Firstly, my local Medieval Festival (because who doesn’t want to be a spectator for real live JOUSTING) and secondly the October weekend when the clocks go forward for daylight saving in my state.

Even with the mild jet lag and a child who refuses to go to bed on time, I rejoice in daylight savings because it means one thing — summer. Hallelujah.

Once the warmer weather sets in, I feel recharged, energized and ready for months upon months of good times and adventure. These are the reasons that the prospect of summer makes me hop from one foot to the other with glee:

1. The beach.

If you don’t love the beach, you may as well hang a sign around your neck that says: ‘Hi! I’m Un-Australian’.

There’s nothing like that sand-between-your-toes, cool-water-on-your-face feeling when you hit the beach for the first time since winter forced you into hibernation. Fresh breezes, ice-cream cones and fish and chips… what more could you want?

2. The heaven-sent mango.

Did somebody say mangoes?

This is what I dig about summer — pulling up to a roadside stall and grabbing an entire tray of these amber beauties for under 20 bucks. Then taking them home and going overboard with smoothies, fruit salads and homemade yoghurt for days.

This is a time of peak deliciousness in the fruit department. We pack our kitchen with passion fruit, pineapple and cherries while they last.

3. Endless festivities.

Visitors from the northern hemisphere may turn their noses up at our dry, brown Christmas. But, I’d much rather be festive in the warmer weather than be stuck inside, huddled around a fire and unable to escape from Great Aunt Ethel’s rendition of Silent Night.

Australians get to celebrate the silly season by heading outdoors and throwing another shrimp on the barbie for weeks on end.

Let’s face it, summer is one big party.

4. Warm nights and obligatory fairy lights.

Close your eyes. Can you smell the sausages sizzling, too? Celebrate summer by heading to endless alfresco gatherings and making the most of the long evenings and hot summer nights. Get into the spirit with strings of fairy lights to bring the festive season to life. They’re an Aussie summer must have.

5. Camping. Yes, really.

There’s nothing more Aussie than hitting the road with the tent in the boot and the surfboards on the roof. The best thing about camping, other than my own happy family tradition of eating Pringles for the entire drive, is the opportunity to properly go offline (yes, I really mean it) for a few days and hang out with your crew for some totem tennis, outdoor cricket and cool drinks while the sun goes down.

6. Dressing down.

Summer means it’s time to pack away the drab winter wardrobe, crack out the cossie and return to a staple uniform of denim shorts and brightly coloured thongs.

Aussie’s love to keep it casual — it’s too hot for stuffy dressing anyway. We unite and rock our tank tops with pride.

7. Waaay less washing.

Speaking of dressing down, a bonus during summer is a seriously lightened laundry load. There are fewer clothes to deal with, less ironing (if you still iron, ha) and less fabric for the folding.

Let the kids run around in their bathers for the entire school holidays and you’ll barely have to do the laundry — at all. It’s a win-win situation.

8. Perfect toenails.

Poor old toes — trapped in ankle boots and sneakers all winter long. When the mercury rises they are allowed back in public in all their glory.

I like to celebrate with a home-pedicure in a beachy-bright neon shade that sets my feet up for months in the sunshine.

9. Ice-cream.

Strawberry, salted caramel and white chocolate, chocolate fudge brownie, hokey pokey…

With so many flavours and only one of me, it’s a good thing the summer lasts a while in this part of the world.

What is summer to you and your family?

And if you need some more summer clothes…