What you do when summer ends?

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when summer ends in Spain. Today, for instance was a beautiful day, with blue sky and sunshine, and a few days ago the temperature reached 30 degrees. However, we do have a winter, despite what some people think, and the longer you live in Spain the more acclimatised you become, and find that you change from shorts to jeans, t-shirts to jumpers, and start to wear a jacket about the same time as the Spanish do, whereas the tourists that come seeking winter sun still wear shorts.

I think the main change that I notice is when the pool temperature starts to drop so that we no longer go in two or three times a day to cool off. That is the case now, so very soon we shall give the pool a last clean, check the pipework to make sure there are no leaks and put the cover on. The cover will then stay on until the end of May when we shall get the pool ready to enjoy again.

Another thing is that it is true Spain can still have lovely warm days even in December and January, but the nights are much cooler. Here in Almería the temperature never drops to zero, usually the lowest is about 4 degrees. So, another important task is to stock up with wood for the wood burner. There are several places around that do wood already cut up according to the size that is required, and there is a choice of woods as well, such as olive, orange and almond. Each has their merit, perhaps being easier to light, or burning slower.

For us we have organised a pet and house sitter and booked our hotel in Sevilla where we shall be spending Christmas. I am really looking forward to this trip, especially after seeing photos online of previous Christmases in Sevilla and the beautiful lights and decorations that they have in the streets and plazas. I shall no doubt tell you all about that trip in January, and I shall be sure to take loads of photos.

On the writing front, after setting a date for publishing book two in the Morgan Morales Murder Mysteries, “O What a Tangled Web!”, I am continuing to set myself targets through the winter. So, the next target is the end of October, when “A Woman Scorned” will be published in Spanish, and them, before my Christmas holiday I plan to have  “O What a Tangled Web!” published in Spanish too.Then, in January 2025 I shall get down to writing book 3, with the intention of it being ready for publication in September 2025.

So, although the summer may be ending, I shall still enjoy walks in the beautiful warm daytime sunshine, cosying up in front of the wood burner in the evening, and continuing to do my writing too. What does the end of summer mean to you where you live? I would love to hear from you!