2025 in review – part 3 – Awful Rigours and Wretched Pay

By Christine Swan

The summer of 2025 was glorious. I had booked two outdoor theatre visits, and the weather was wonderful for both of them. The summer seemed to be filled with blue skies and warm temperatures.

Getting ready for Noughts and Crosses at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre

The university teaching term ended at the start of July, although there are always exam boards and other happenings until the end of the school term in July. On one of my London theatre weekends, when I was visiting Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, I decided to visit London Zoo, which I had not done for over forty years. I have very mixed feelings about zoos, although the environment is much improved from when I visited as a much younger adult. As a university student, I had a free pass. I would sometimes visit to contemplate, to make eye contact with another species and wonder, when it looked back, what it saw in me. I do not feel that a spider is necessarily aware that it isn’t free, but primates must. For that reason, I wondered if I was doing the right thing by visiting.

The small original penguin pool at London Zoo

Penguin Beach provides much more space

Nevertheless, as I mentioned, the environment is improved. The original penguin pool still stands, as a listed structure, and it is shocking to see how little space they had before Penguin Beach was developed. The sun was baking and the sky a deep turquoise blue – hard to think that this was London in July. Reflecting on my day, I did enjoy it, especially visiting my old friends, the bushbabies, although we must now refer to them as galagos.

A bushbaby – and always a bushbaby to me

In the middle of July I took a trip closer to home to visit the Cotswold Lavender farm. Lavender needs the sun and it was in good supply ion the summer of 2025, although on the day I visited, it was a little subdued. The scent of the lavender was beautiful and many varieties were represented. The fields were crowded with butterflies, bees, and Instagrammers. Additionally, there is a little cabin shop and a cafe on the field edge. The cafe sells the usual fare of tea, cakes and biscuits, but, most are lavender themed. I washed down my lavender Earl Grey tea with a lavender flapjack and a lavender shortbread biscuit. Some folk may throw their hands in horror at the thought of highly scented floral food but, I would strongly suggest trying before passing judgement. The French know that lavender has soothing properties, and is perfectly edible. I have purchased lavender syrup, sorbet, jam, and tea in France, and duplicates in the rose, violet, jasmine, and mimosa varieties also. Last year, I also purchased a bottle of orange flower water in Menton, the delicate scent and flavour is a delight. But, returning to the lavender, it also has medicinal properties. I bought some of the Earl Gray with lavender tea, which I took to drinking in the evening. It is very relaxing. The scent and flavour makes it the perfect evening, soporific, bedtime drink.

With the bees at Cotswold Lavender

The wildflower meadow at Cotswold Lavender

I took another trip to Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb in late July. The weather was mostly kind but the heavens opened later in the afternoon, which signalled a swift departure.

Classic fun at Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb

Unfortunately, rain stopped play

July was also filled with flowers in my garden. I never cease to be amazed how a few packets of seeds can fill a garden. I did buy a few plants too. When I say a few, this is probably a conservative estimate.

The summer brought out the very best of my garden

A scheduled trip to Birmingham coincided with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, one of the city’s favourite sons. It was a surprising day with visitors from around the world gathering to pay their respects. Unintentionally, we toured the murals, pubs, and museum exhibition, while a sombre atmosphere hung over Birmingham. As I work in Birmingham, I am very familiar with its streets, and yet, they seemed changed somehow. More united, but also, more sad.

At Black Sabbath Bridge

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Ozzy exhibition

I made my annual summer trip to the south of France, and visited some familiar places but also some new. I never tire of exploring this most beautiful region of the Mediterranean coast.

Every French holiday begins with a walk across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon – at Bastille

Mediterranean sunsets keep drawing me back

Colours of Nice

I returned in August and attended my first ever beer festival. This is quite an achievement as I do not drink beer. Thankfully, they also had a range of ciders which slaked my thirst.

Worcester pubs as advertised at the Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry Festival

September saw the start of the new academic year and all of the additional work that it brings but I still found time to attend the Open City Open House weekend in London. I carefully selected sites that I had not previously visited, which enabled me to explore more sites of hidden London. This is an excellent event and every year, it appears to attract more “Open Housers”. They can be spotted in the proximity of open sites waving maps and guides, or staring intently at their phones, twisting them this way and that, trying to orientate themselves with their map software.

Amazing places at the Open House Festival – at Drapers’ Hall

The month ended with another trip to London, this time for the launch of Tessa Hunkin’s Mosaic Project book, published by Spitalfields Life books. For me, this was a return to Hackney, where I was born. I visited with a friend who was born in West London – not an area that I know terribly well. She was less familiar with the East. We spent a thoroughly pleasant afternoon in the early autumn sunshine and supported this impactful and inclusive venture. Tessa is a talented mosaic artist who plans and executes community projects around London. She also teaches participants the craft of mosaic making. The workshop was filled with chatter and laughter, and the kitchen with tea, cake and conversation. It is not hard to see how this project is good for the soul, provides companionship, and a gentle, joyful pursuit. In large projects, everybody can contribute and be a part of the larger whole. I think this is wonderful.