Another Long Weekend?

Now I remember why I love the summer so much; aside from the glorious sunshine (snort), floral dresses and picnics in the park, it’s littered with these lovely Bank Holiday weekends! This one will be the last we see for a while, so we’d better make the most of it. But before you get out your barbecue tools and crack open the cider, you might want to check the weather forecast. I know it’s not very droll to discuss such matters, but we’re due to have thunder and hail storms! You can still have your cold cider, but I’d highly recommend taking cover in a cosy pub.

For the brave, welly-wearing Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival will be one of the weekend’s highlights. There was some debate about whether it would still go ahead following the riots, but they’ve had the green light and it’s all happening as planned, with extra Police on duty for the duration. If you’re planning to get there in a Notting Hill taxi, bear in mind that a lot of the roads around the area will be closed for the Carnival floats; they usually close the tube station too so plan your route before you leave. In the spirit of the Caribbean, you can expect steel drums and reggae, jerk chicken and a cacophony of colours, feathers and sequins. The only give away that you’re not actually in Trinidad is... well... everything else actually. From the grey skies overhead to the grey concrete underfoot, you may have to use your imagination a bit!

Don’t be too glum, though; there is allegedly some sun coming on Sunday. I will have my fingers crossed and might even do a little sun dance while no-one’s looking. Care to join me? I’m not too clued up on ritual practices, but I’m sure we can make it up as we go along.

If you’d rather stay away from the raucous carnival-goers, there are plenty of other options in and around London; one thing I’ve been meaning to do since I moved here is visit Kew Gardens. I’d especially love to see the influences from East Asia -- tranquility in London is a rare gem indeed.