Opinion: Staycation if you can arrange the sun

Looking out the window on Monday morning, the first day of the local school holidays, and I remember why I usually like to holiday abroad.

Rain, lots of it, and a lack of sunshine are not my idea of summer weather.

There’s nothing I enjoy more on a crisp autumn day than to get wrapped up and go out for a long walk.

However, in the summer months I’m looking for a bit of heat and sun rather than the typhoon-like deluge we’ve had for the past few days.

You have probably guessed that I’m writing this as someone who got wet, very wet, twice at the weekend.

My first trip out on Saturday was supposed to miss the rain according the weather app on my phone. However, it decided to start an hour earlier and left me like the proverbial drowned rat.

The following day after being cooped up inside until late afternoon I decided to make a dash for freedom when there was a break in the rain – only for it to return in monsoon-like proportions when I was about 20 minutes out from home.

I was soaked to the skin by the time I reached my front door and longing for the warm weather of the last few weeks.

During the first few months of lockdown we’ve actually been very fortunate – I only once had to queue in the rain to get into the supermarket and was happy to stay at home in my garden bathed in sunshine.

However, now that the holidays are here I feel so sorry for all the parents who think they’ve got a break from home schooling only for their youngsters to be cooped up inside as the rain falls.

All the usual rainy day activities, such as swimming pools, soft play areas and even a visit to Callendar House or the library, are still curtailed.

Which is what probably prompted the phone call from my grand-daughter, Sophie, earlier.

“Gran, it’s not fair,” she wailed. “I’ve not got any school work to do and I wanted to go out in the garden to use my trampoline but it’s pouring with rain.”

“I’m afraid that’s Scottish weather for you. But it does mean that you’ve still got lots more days on your trampoline to look forward to,” I replied.

All said with my fingers firmly crossed!

My daughter and her family had been due to head off on holiday to Spain this weekend but obviously that’s not happening.

And the two weeks Emma and my son-in-law have booked off from work are too early in the easing of lockdown restrictions for them to plan a staycation.

They had hoped to be able to go up north for a week or even a few days with the children but that’s not to be.

Scotland has some amazing scenery and the most wonderful beaches but, unfortunately, it cannot be relied on for the dry, sunny weather to enjoy either at their best.

Of course, all the rain is why we have such swathes of beautiful green countryside.

At the moment we are being encouraged not to travel too far from home but when the restrictions are lifted, I’ve promised the family that we will all make that trip north.

Now just to look for my magic wand to arrange the sunshine – and my midge swatter!