Mid summer's day

Mid summer 24th

Longest day 21st

It's to do with ancient calendars. Summer solstice is always June 21st. June 24th is a quarter day (self explanatory). There were originally discrepancies between two ancient calendars (The Julian and the Gregorian). When the calendars were required to merge and make sense, these two dates remained as they were. So, we are left with the slightly confusing mid summer dates.

At least my long term memory is intact!!

Either way it's downhill to C.....mas

Now that is depressing!

It was certainly very hot 41 years ago today!
I was in the maternity home

Put the sprouts on?

I used to know all those dates Kitty but cannot dredge them up from the depths these days, so well done all who do remember them.Shall we celebrate with a drink or three????

Jalima many happy returns to that child. And you of course.

Isn't 'maternity home' a strange concept now!

Your sprouts will never be done if you haven't got them on already, roses

I'd like to celebrate with a very large ice cream cone, plus 99 , from the posh ice cream shop a mile away. They make their own. No doubt the queue will be lengthy, especially as schools are just coming out.
I don't know if I ever knew that midsummer day was on a different day to the longest day. I do now

I had a Suffolk clotted cream ice cream, after a lovely coastal walk.

What I have noticed is how glorious all the gardens everywhere are looking. It really has been the most wonderful year so far.

Mind you I am a tad worried about my pots. I absolutely flooded them but I doubt whether they will not be affected. I could have asked my neighbours, but they have both brand new babies so their need is greater than mine!!!

I find this day the most depressing of the year as i know the nights will get darker minutes earlier until we get to winter solstice. At the moment we dont have darkness here, i was gardening last night until after 10 p.m and the streetlights didnt come on until 10.44.

Thank you kittylester; that very hungry baby is now a 6'3" man and a father himself!!

I don't find it depressing, it's the autumn equinox I find depressing. Everyone else is looking forward to walking in the woods, scuffing the fallen leaves and I just think of cold, dark, wet winter.

Make the most of summer!

Longest day today, my birthday. June 20th 1976 my eldest daughter was born. It was such a hot summer that year. Today is also my son in laws 40th and my youngest daughter has taken him to see Les Mis. Hope the theatre had aircon.

Happy birthday Sar53

It was a very long hot summer - trying to keep the babies cool was quite difficult.

Happy birthday to all concerned!

I always feel cheered up on December 21st at the thought that the darkness will start to get less, and it does occur to me that the reverse is true today, but there should be some summer still to come... Just now it is chucking it down here, but it is quite warm.

Sorry to hear about your sprouts, rosesarered. Of course kittylester is right, and they won't be ready, but then maybe you like them with a bit of a bone in?