Best summer of your life?

[NorthernLiner]

It's probably 1991 for me.

Cliche, but young, slim and fit 18 years old, living and working in London before starting university that September!

Live in the home counties now, but London will always have my heart ❤️

1991 for me also

I turned 14 that summer, the weather was great, went to Switzerland for nearly a month with my parents, came home and just spent the rest of the summer with my mates, fancied loads of boys, out all day, swam in rivers, watched Robin Hood Prince of thieves 5 times, fell in love with Christian Slater and had the time of my life.

im 49 now and I’ve never had another summer since then that has even come close.

You are the same age as my sister and she remembers it similarly to you as she also had a crush on Christian Slater 🙂

2013 probably. There was a heatwave in London and I’d just started a really cool new job which was really well-paid. I met my husband that summer too.

1996, it was the best summer ever.

I'd not long graduated and I met an amazing man. I was living the dream. There was a football tournament (Euro 96?) and we spent weeks in the pub cheering on England.

It actually makes me want to cry thinking about how perfect that summer was 😢

2020 was gorgeous weather i was shielded so didn't have to go to work and got paid for it. No pressure to go anywhere or do anything. Just loads of family time loved it.

We did have great weather in 2020, it was warm and sunny for months!

Euro 96 was a great tournament.

Oh and the music that year.

Gah, I sound like one of those lame '90s are the new 60s' losers 😂

1976 will always be special, even if current temperatures have exceeded it. It was kind of fun to be living through such a newsworthy time.

1990 was probably my best summer though. I was thriving in my career after a rocky start and I met my husband that summer.

I was 14 that summer too and it was the BEST summer. I recorded the Bryan Adams theme from that movie 9 times on a tape so I didnt have to rewind it constantly.

I spent one summer when I was 17 shut in my room playing games feeling very isolated and depressed. But I lost 3 stone and it meant I went off to university confident. I also quite liked not seeing anyone at all for a few months!

1990 - second year uni student, travelling with the man I thought was my One True Love - absolutely thought I had life sorted in all ways. Had my arse handed to me within a year however 🤣

The summer I was 18 for me too; DH and I started dating in the May and everything felt so fun and magical and like the whole world was open to us.

Followed closely by the summer DS2 was born; newborn and a 2yo. We stayed at home most of the time pottering about in the garden and round the block. Everything was so chilled and wonderful. Nowhere to be. It was the first time in my life that I wasn't stressed or anxious. Glorious summer; only a few very hot days but loads of sunshine and 20 degree days. 2020 was a great summer also for similar reasons; though I was definitely anxious!

1976. I was nearly 14 and went to America for 6 weeks to visit family. I thought it was so incredible I wanted to live there. It was just such a different way of life.

Seems like the summers we turned 14 or 18 were memorable ones!

1989: just finished 2nd year at uni and (now) DH had just finished his 1st year. Moved into his student flat (as flatmate away over the summer). Totally in love! Soundtrack of disintegration by the cure and Doolittle by the pixies. Worked in h. Samuel that summer to earn some money and went interrailing come September. Such happy days!

1998- I was 18
id had a pretty tough childhood and due to that ended up in an unhealthy relationship with someone very manipulative and controlling.
I left home to work abroad for the summer and I’ve never felt so safe, calm, joyful and free. Late nights dancing, swimming in the sea. Making friends I felt I’d known forever. Healing. For once I felt I could concentrate on me and not live in fear of the chaos around me.
It was a beautiful, carefree and perfect time. Life hasn’t always been easy since, but I’m so grateful for that summer and the experiences I had.

1976, was 9 during the drought, but old enough to be out all day/ after school, biking, building dens, playing. No responsibility, no worries.

1984/5. Summer trips with school pals to north Devon to go surfing. Again before responsibility kicked in.
September 85, started a full time job, after that life was never as carefree.

The year of 1984. We were 18, young and fabulous and had just finished A levels. Ten of us went to the South of France for a couple of weeks it was amazing. Days on the beach, meeting lots of other young people and clubbing and literally living off baguettes and red wine. Such a special time.

This thread is really filling my gratitude cup, as I'd struggle to choose a fave there have been so many gooduns!!

2002 - went on exchange to America with school over the holidays. People my age out there could drive so experienced a level of freedom I'd not had before. Was magical to be that age and have so much freedom.

2005 - did Camp America, loved it.

2008 - worked the festival circuit. I don't think I've ever spent so much time outdoors!

2012 - backpacked for 4 months

2016 - had the most fabulous summer in a beautiful city in the UK, living and working there but enjoying lots of evenings at pubs by the river, outdoor theatre shows, music nights, bike rides and picnics.

2020 - so much time at home in the sun with a young family, no fomo to go anywhere or do anything as we weren't allowed to. Actually learned how to relax and slow down. Not to belittle others experience of the pandemic, for many it was awful, but for my household there were many positives.

2022 - took a campervan around Europe with my family for 5 weeks

2024 - big UK roadtrip including the Edinburgh fringe, lots of camping and family time.

Hoping this summer will be another lovely one 🥰

1999. The summer between school and university. It was really good weather, hung out every day with my friends. We stayed up all night, slept out on the moors etc. Swore we would be friends forever. That didn’t happen and by the end of university we weren’t in touch any more but still have very fond memories of that time.

I’ve been so so lucky to have had loads but the summer of 1996 stands out for me. Months off uni spent working in Ibiza, not a care in the world.

2002. I was 20 and slim and looked my best. Had a job and my own money. Both my Grandparents were alive and healthy. I had a fabulous holiday in Barbados and rocked my bikinis that I wouldn't dare wear now. Definitely my summer of love as well, as much as I love my Husband absolutely dearly, there is always that one special love locked away in your heart, the one that got away. (Had we stayed together we'd have argued about bills and I'd have washed his socks and got sick of cleaning the toilet etc so it's nice to keep the romantised version of him forever)

Quite a few for me too. I don't know which was my favourite, but 1996 was great for me too. Just graduated from uni, did Work America and then travelled around the US with my friend. Such a fun summer! Met masses of new people, partied on the beach, visited places I'd always dreamed of visiting, I was young and cute and carefree!

Last year was particularly good, I went to a wedding in Italy, then on a holiday to Greece, a short cruise in an amazing suite and a couple of days later came back and booked a solo trip to Egypt for the following day.
It was crazy time with a bit of everything going on.

1984
I was 24. It was a whirlwind of Balls, dates, Henley, and gorgeous young men.