Coming from the Northern Hemisphere it still feels a little strange that I should be enjoying summer between the months of December and February. Frankly, given that I from the UK it feels strange to be enjoying summertime at all.

30 degrees at Christmas? Jumping into the sea to celebrate the New Year? What’s that all about?

This time of the year should all be about bleakness: horrific weather; short, dark days (sunset at 3.30pm anyone?); no more holidays until Easter; Celebrity Big Brother, etc.

Bleakness untold.

Remarkably, the only other time I’ve spent Christmas away from the UK was when I was travelling in 2007. My buddy and I headed to the beach in Uruguay anticipating sun we instead found British rain, wind and cloud cover. Bloody typical.

Anyway, summer holidays during (my) winter have become just another life adjustment now. Besides, summer in São Paulo is basically all year round anyway…