Sitting in the garden

Ha ha I actually sat in my garden with a cuppa yesterday after watching the wedding. We have 3 seating areas lots of seats and we never sit out! On holiday I sit out on the terrce/balcony and enjoy the warmth and outdoors but don't do it here? My conclusion is that we rarely get decent weather and the evenings go so chilly and that's why?

Can't stay in bright sun - migraine! Evening is my favourite time, I can enjoy the garden then but now I do not have a chair which does not set my pain off, so I hardly ever stay out more than about 5 minutes.

Oh I love being in my garden,love being outdoors,in all but the worst weather,am in the garden more than the house,our garden backs on to farmland and we amazing views,can see for miles&miles,I'm 65 but still love lying on the grass on my tummy watching the newts etc in the pond and because of this all my grandchildren do too!?????

Willow500 I am just the same, I wilt in the heat but on the good side, my skin has stayed good without too much sun.

We love outdoors, backdoor always open during the day in good weather and we even sit outside, sometimes wrapped up eating breakfast. Family think we are mad but in the winter when we are away in SE Asia it is the norm to eat outside in all types of weather, even the cold in the mountains, so we just continue at home.

Buy one of those swinging seats with a canopy, fill it with soft cushions, a drink to hand and maybe a book, a sunny warm day .. bliss.

I've just been discussing this with my husband on the way back from buying cat food and his answer was 'whenever we have free time we go on the computers so that's why we don't go outside'. He has a point I suppose - I've tried working outside but the sun even under an umbrella interferes with the screens and as I have to work on 4 it's too much of an effort to get it all out. When the conservatory was built it was meant to be an office hence the wall of plugs at one end but it quickly became apparent it wasn't suitable due to the light - I even tried putting the big umbrella up in there

Many years ago we had a swing and I did use that to sit and read so the comfort element must be a factor. Those huge great basket hammock chairs look lovely and comfy but what do you do with them in the winter?! We saw someone trying to get one in his car at B&M Stores this morning - must have been an impulse buy without thinking of transport

If it’s warm and sunny I am outside. I would love a swing but with our weather it would need get much use. Would also love a conservatory but our house is not suitable.

It's lovely to sit outside eating your breakfast in the nice weather. Just listening to the birds, and deciding what to do or not do is simple pleasures. Watch every possible gardening programme for ideas and tips on what we might do next ..often get a bit more inspiration to make the garden a more enjoyable place to be and then the pleasure of going to garden centres to try and recreate something we have seen. Even if you do not enjoy gardening just sitting out in the fresh air for a little while is good for your health and wellbeing.

We had a small conservatory which was roasting when sun shining as our garden is south facing. We had it replaced with small orangery. What a difference. We sit in it a lot when too cold outside but it is also lovely at height of the summer. But we love to sit outside when it's warm enough. We have comfortable furniture and umbrella. Just love sitting outside reading, watching and listening to the birds. Wonderful.

*Oops! Meant to be 'forgetting'.

I like it even more now I have a swing installed. I decided to treat myself to a handmade swing earlier this year but have only recently had it 'installed'. It's a most effective way of clearing one's head and gorgetting about the world at large. It would be perfect if I had a pond or small lake to gaze at while swinging but you can't have it all.
Last year's purchase was an almost new wooden garden bench (display model) which I've jazzed up with pink, purple, peach and turquoise outdoor cushions bought online where I can sit or lie to read or sleep with a throw in case it gets a bit cooler. Vitamin D is good for your bones.

I love sitting on my patio listening to an audio book and crocheting but cannot bear to sit in direct sun. So last year I treated myself to a patio awning which has been in use several times this year - love it despite one or two teething problems with the wind sensor, it was faulty and the awning kept on going up even without wind! Almost sorted now and I can still use it while the new part is ordered.

I am not able to do much gardening though so do get a bit frustrated as the garden looks more like a jungle but I just try to ignore it. I just hope we have a lovely summer this year as I have not booked a holiday due to my problems - I would rather stay at home than pay a lot to go somewhere and not be able to walk enough to go sightseeing!

I only do outdoors in short bursts but I do miss having a garden (I'm in a first floor flat). I used to go to the flat but then I would think (what am I doing here) and then just go home again. I get hay fever and also am not too good if it is too hot so I prefer Spring and Autumn and even Winter to the Summer.

I treated myself to a 3 seater swinging hammock, so often lay out there swinging in the shade. Even when it’s been cool I have wrapped myself in a blanket and laid there having a read, I love it.

Interested by this discussion, as I am the same as the OP. DH requested a table at eating height last week, so that is coming on Monday with some upright cane chairs, and we have 2 top of the range recliner seats, plus the old wooden rotting ones round the garden. But after maybe half an hour's work out there early on, I don't really go out there and sit on my own.

P.S. I should have said that I don't like sitting in direct sunshine, so have a sun hat and often sit under a tree or an umbrella.

Where is all the heat everyone is hating? Here on the coast the sea is still ice cold so keeps the temperature down. We have 16 degrees at most at the moment even with the sun out. Do not like being too hot but would welcome a little more! Can someone send some over please?

I just came in from sitting in the garden reading the paper and found this thread! I suppose it is all down to our own likes and dislikes - but some of those are based on whether we sat outside with our parents, or learnt to enjoy country walks when we were children. I believe we evolved to be outside much of the time, under the sky and with green things around us, and it actually improves our lives and moods - but old habits may stop our enjoyment of being out of doors. It takes a conscious effort to create new habits but I guess you may find it is really worth it!

We have a three seater swing too, OldMeg and the greatest treat is having our 11am coffee on it, as we will do this morning. Gently swinging, drinking excellent ground coffee, sitting next to the man I love and looking at our favourite view of the house. Sometimes with a cat or three in attendance. No wonder it's a treat!

We had a conservatory but it was either too hot or too cold....so we made it into a garden room...now never go out...much happier to sit and watch the world...i have had skin cancer so i do have an excuse but the chairs and other garden furniture slowly age...

I’ve had a 3-seater swing thing for years now. I love to lie on it with a good book and the top positioned so I don’t get too much sun and watch the birds feeding because they can’t see me.

It’s in my own Secret Garden, away from everything else.

We could be twins Willow no conservatory for me either. I don't suppose I will change now so resign myself to spending July & August inside with my trusty fan.

I'm glad I'm not alone I do think if my other half was interested in sitting out it might happen more but he's worse than me. I've often thought how breakfast out there would be lovely but at 5.30 am trying to get his lunch packed up and him getting ready to go to work at 6 it doesn't even compute. Weekends we get up at different times and although I work from home and could do coffee out there I rarely leave my desk. I tend to only go out there when the gardening tasks make me feel guilty and it has to be warm to even hang the washing out. Hopefully retirement (and some comfy chairs) might bring some changes! I might add the conservatory doesn't fare any better either - too hot and bright in the summer and too cold in the winter!

By the way my 'windowless box' is a little office stuffed to the gills with 'stuff' but no outside views

If it’s not raining, I’m outside, there’s always something to do, I love my garden, my happy place. I am happy nurturing plants, coaxing them to grow, weeding, pruning, even slapping wood stain on fences, even like cutting the grass, clearing up after the dog is maybe not the best chore! I eat all my meals, drink coffee and rather large gins (rhubarb is my favourite this year) read books, it’s where I’m happiest?