Best summer reads - win £400 of brilliant books

1971. My French pen friend Nadine came to stay with my family in Norfolk and we returned together to her home in Aix-en-Provence.
As soon as the plane landed she reverted to speaking French, which we did for the next fortnight. Complete immersion in the language was the best way to learn, but what a shock!
In fact the whole two weeks were a blissful culture shock as I tasted olives, artichokes, pissaladière and fresh warm peaches and tomatoes. It was hot and sunny. My hair lightened, my skin darkened and I learnt to swim out of my depth in the Mediterranean. I've since returned to Provence but that summer was hard to beat.

The summer of 76 and long sunny days spent on the beach.

Summer 1979, my wonderful DD was born in the April and I had a summer spent getting used to having a little baby and our life as a family beginning.
Wonderful time.

several years ago we had 2 weeks in the US, one week on a boat up and down a random river, then the rest in Orlando doing everything that we possibly could. The children were 5 & 7 and everything was magical. so so many memories

My childhood summers were good fun. We spent most days down on the beach or in the garden in the paddling pool.

My best summer in a very long time was 2013 when my OH and I had both just retired. We spent a month on Australia following the British and Irish Lions on a winning tour of Australia and even found time for seeing the sights and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

It was literally on our doorstep few miles up the road we rented a caravan in sea houses Northumberland I was heavily pregnant and needed to be near home we had a fab time with our two boys we played scrabble and monopoly and ate fish and chips out of the paper! We showered in a local shower block and had late night walks along the beaches we still talk about it my boys are all fathers now but remember that lovely time

All my childhood holidays were the best. We would take jam sandwiches and a (glass) bottle of water and go exploring. We made dens in the woods and picnicked in the fields. We collected petals and left them soaking in water to make perfume,(it never worked). Sometimes we'd try and catch fish with string and bent pin or gather as many toads and frogs for races.
We would climb the highest trees or collect lost balls on the golf course.
It never seemed to rain, although it must have,and we would straggle home at tea time, dirty and tired. Mums never worried about where we were or who we were with. That freedom is sadly, lost to children today,

My best summer was when I was 14, youth hosteling, where I met my first love. It was all very innocent but I still think of him and I am now 73.

My best summer was 2 years ago when my granddaughter was born in Italy. We had booked to go out on her due date, 4 August, but she decided to arrive a few days early on 28 July. This meant we had a glorious 2 weeks getting to know her and spending time with her big sister and Mummy and Daddy. She could have arrived on the day we were leaving!

My best holiday was last year when for the first time we went on an European holiday with my family....my daughter, my son and his family(2 grandons). We did not have a good start as we missed the plane and had to pay for another flight, missed the car hire, had to go a different airport. But we were together and after the first (not good day) the rest was lovely. We stayed couple of days in one cottage and the other few days in another town. My son arranged everything, do I just tag along. I'll treasure that time as I don't know whether I will have another holiday together again. X

My best summer was 1976, just after I Had finished my O levels. One of the hottest summers on record and I spent it all laid out in the garden - bliss!

My best summer was spent as a student excavating at Silchester-students get such long summers-ah those were the days!

my best summer was 3 years ago when I had a very bad accident, and was in hospital for months because of it, thankfully I had lots of wonderful books to read, thanks to all the staff in the hospital bringing me books to keep, so that was a wonderful summer, as I was bedridden, so the books kept me sane!!! I could have died in 3 minutes and was so lucky to live, so now although it has left me disabled, I enjoy every moment of my life, realising how precious life can actually be!! I still have lots of friends who bring me books, because they know my books are my best friends when I am alone in the house, they are my link to the outside when I have to be inside so much. Without books to read, and keep me calm, when I get stressed about my situation, I would have lost the plot a long time before now!!!!

The summer of 2015 - when our first grandchild joined our family.

I remember being young and going off to a lake every summer with my friends We had to go through a field and it took roughly 30mins to get there. One day I swam in the lake and really tried hard to reach that island in the middle of it. Unfortunately just over halfway there I got super tired and tried to swim back. Realised I couldn't and tried to wave for help No help came so I just had to calm down take a moment then swim. Must admit I never tried to reach that dam island again. Lol

1988 - The summer of the Glasgow Garden Festival. Our daughters were 7 and 4 and we had a magical time in this vast area of garden. We had season tickets so we were there at least 3 times a week for the duration of the summer. I cried when it was over - such special memories.

My best summer was a few years back, we went to Cornwall and hired a cottage for 2 weeks with the family, it was fantastic. The cottage was in Perranporth and we would stroll to the butchers and bakers to get supplies for breakfast, spend days on the beach or in surrounding areas, and while away the nights either in pub gardens eating lovely meals, sitting eating chips on the beach, or watching the sun go down from the benches in the garden of the cottage, which was elevated with fantastic views.

Either any summer when my children were small and we had wonderful pre-school unhindered country picnics (at the bottom of the garden with a drink and a jammy doughnut) or slightly later, taking the children out of school (with the Head's permission) for a fortnight's holiday in France. The children were thirsty for knowledge of everything plus we had blissful sunny days on beaches. I am trying to recreate such events with my grandchildren but it is not so easy to co-ordinate everything these days! Times have changed!

My best summer was my first time away from home when I worked in a hotel in Ilfracombe at the age of 16. I enjoyed the work and spent time exploring the area. I met some lovely people, both residents and visitors.

Summer of '94 - newly married and everything was great

The summer of 78 spent working on a farm in France - fantastic days

On reflection, I think, perhaps, my best summer was 1967. We were in our early twenties with two young daughters and were permanently short of cash. My darling late husband got the opportunity of a job in Zambia (which could have been on the moon for all we knew!) and it was offered family status, which meant that we could accompany him. Despite the misgivings of our families, we were so excited. Our first summer in Zambia was fantastic. The girls had the best time ever. They soon adopted local dress - no shoes and minimal clothes- and lived a life of walks in the bush, swimming in the Company's swimming pool and dining al fresco. Quite a change from what we had been used to. It was a magical summer and created so many happy memories.

It has to be 1976, because having finished my degree there was a wonderful world of possibilities and opportunities opening up to me, all helped by the most memorable summer, filled with sunshine

In the summer of 2012, I celebrated my 60th birthday, retirement from work and our Ruby wedding. Having lived in the same place for 37 years, my DH and I sold our house and moved to London. A memorable summer!