I recall summers when I was a child: hot, sleepless nights, bedroom windows wide open, trying to suck in the smallest amount of breeze, from an anticipated cool change on the coast line some 250km south, but the only thing that I could hear moving was me: my chest, as I breathed in the warm air, and as I unsuccessfully rolled around trying to find a more comfortable, cooler position on the bed. It was necessary to have a sheet on, to keep the occasional mosquito from biting, so it was a navigational task: hold the sheet up, roll around, settle down... In those days, there was no airconditioning, fans were reserved for waking hours, and what is the point of circulating hot air anyway?
When morning finally came, I would wake to the hot stillness of the air, heavy with sleep but the bright sunshine beginning to reheat the air again . Appetites disappear in this climate, especially if the preparation of meals only makes the house hotter. Even now, on the hottest of days, my favourite meal is freshly prepared tomato sandwiches on white bread with a strong cup of white tea.
In those days, we usually drank copious amounts of tea, the effect on the body of drinking several cups of tea meant that a sweat would break out, and provide a natural cooling effect to the body.
If we were lucky, on a hot day such as this, there would be a test match broadcast on television, and at 11 am it was permissable to find a comfortable spot in the lounge room, to lie in comfort and watch the flickering black and white display of the battle for the Ashes: marvelling at the energy output of the fast bowlers and grace and power of the batsmen.
Even today, with air conditioning home, car and workplace, I like nothing better on a hot day to find a comfortable chair, a cool drink and to watch some cricket on the tv.
Yes... but what about tennis? Isn't that just as relaxing?