Breakfast at the golf club

Impromptu gatherings are especially happy events in the summer when the balmy weather is at its seasonal peak. Today is the First Day of Summer.

The summer solstice, also known as estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. Within the Arctic circle (for the northern hemisphere) or Antarctic circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice. On the summer solstice, Earth’s maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. Likewise, the Sun’s declinationfrom the celestial equator is 23.44°.

The summer solstice occurs during summer. This is the June solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the December solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs sometime between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and between December 20 and December 23 in the Southern Hemisphere. The same dates in the opposite hemisphere are referred to as the winter solstice.

Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has been marked by festivals and rituals. Traditionally, in many temperate regions (especially Europe), the summer solstice is seen as the middle of summer and referred to as “midsummer”. Today, however, in some countries and calendars it is seen as the beginning of summer.

Last evening we managed to put together an unplanned breakfast at the golf club this morning at 9:00 am with our Ashton Village connection. Securing the companionship of this notorious vagabond on such short notice is truly a success! Aligned with that serendipity was the incomparable weather today. After tucking into our most agreeable breakfast – which in my case was a superb Mediterranean eggs Benedict – we pushed back our lounge chairs overlooking the first tee and prattled together for a good long while before resurrecting ourselves.

After having consumed the plate of eggs, baked beans and wedges of fried potatoes it was the work of an instant to organize an athletic bicycle ride along the usual route. The dry heat of the day ensured there was limited traffic even on a Saturday morning.

Because the opportunity for socializing is currently so restrictive, one cherishes the qualified moments when here. The rigidity of conferences is just now beginning to lessen. As yet the signals are not a green light but the amber is certainly beginning to show. After a lock-down which started April 21st people have not fully adjusted to what was previously a normal collection of communications. Just dining in public is a rediscovery. Small talk surrounding travel is something not yet available. The plain truth is that no one is certain about what will transpire which naturally heightens the blessing of what unfolds.