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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 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 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 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 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.

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,

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Summer 1960, first non-family holiday. First summer as a working 'adult'. A villa in France on the Mediterranean near the Spanish border. Let's Twist Again, Volleyball, wine, rhum babas. Then hitching through the magnificent Pyrenees, paella, melons, fresh sardines, more wine, music and Catalan dancing. Stars above the campsite at night, tinkling of goatbells to wake us. Down to the village to buy fresh bread with no Spanish and a large denomination peso note.
It was good to be young!

My best summer was 2010. My son, who had recently returned safely from a horrific six month tour of duty in Afghanistan, whisked his girlfriend off to Iceland and she returned as his fiancée as he had proposed under the Northern Lights. When they flew back to Heathrow, we were in London on a lovely break that I was lucky enough to win. Our accomodation was upgraded to a Penthouse apartment overlooking the Thames, where we all met up to celebrate, with my daughter joinedus for a wonderful meal in Chelsea and lots of laughter into the early hours of the morning. The happiness that we felt having our son home and looking forward to the wedding lasted well into the following months.

1976 the drought year summer. Long long hot days and holidays with the guides camping and having loads of fun before the responsibilities of adulthood hit home!

The summer of 1966 when I went to stay with my Aunt and Uncle in North Wales. My Aunt and Uncles grandchildren were also there, who were similar age to me (14), along with 2 other cousins who were also similar age. We had a fantastic time just exploring the area and the beach and playing together. I still remember that summer with lots of happy memories.

My best summer was the one when my daughter was born 1978 and although it was very hot that year it was great because after I had her I could take her out in her pram without feeling guilty for not being inside doing housework.

I think every summer when I was a child. My friends and I used to have picnics in a local wood, paddle in a small river, pedal on our bikes, spend time in one friend's personal shed and in those days we were without a care in the world. I used to leave home early morning and return early evening, tired but happy- those were the days of the long school holidays and our rear door was rarely locked.

The best Summer I had was in 2002 when I decided to quit my job and go solo travelling around South East Asia. I intended to stay just 6 weeks but I ended up travelling for 6 Months. It taught me how to be self-sufficient and more confident. It’s never too late to be spontaneous and take risks.

The summer that I met my Husband 1975.

When my girls were small we used to pack all our belongings into the caravan, get the ferry across to Holland and just go wherever the mood took us. We used to take 3-4 weeks off work (those were the days!) and the days were full of sunshine, swimming, picnics and running around in the fresh air.

My best summer was in 1973. My first holiday without my parents, I went to Blackpool with my best friend and we rented an apartment for two weeks. I say apartment it was one room with a bed that folded into the wall and a shared bathroom. We had a ball during those two weeks, I also met my future husband during that holiday and next year we will have been married for forty years. My friend and I spoke of that holiday often about how daft we were. We even ran out of money and took a job in a transport cafe for a few days. Sadly my friend passed away very suddenly just a few weeks ago. I'm so glad I have wonderful memories of her including that best summer ever.

1967 in the guise if improving our German A level my friend and I travelled across Germany by train. We ended up in Berlin at the time of the wall. We wore tiny mini dresses and sling back shoes . Met so many handsome young men in uniform. Went drinking and dancing . A great time of fun and freedom .

I'm a bit of a hot-house flower so am still nostalgic for the summer of 1976 - hot, dry and went on forever. All I needed was lawn, blanket and book and I was happy. All summers should be like that.