As our My Summer series continues, RiotACT contributor Rebecca Vassarotti shares how she plans to make the most of the summer. Spending time with friends and loved ones is top of the list.
This summer I’m most looking forward to … relaxing, having fun with the family and being able to slow down the pace of our lives.
I’m least looking forward to … car travel. We have planned a few wonderful summer trips, and while the destinations are fantastic, getting there on the roads always make me nervous. I just hope everyone is safe as they travel on the roads and no Canberra family has to deal with sadness at this special time.
The best swimming pool in Canberra is … Dickson outdoor pool. It is a beautiful community facility and a great place to cool down when the weather is hot. We are very lucky to be able to stroll to the pool and always meet friends when we are there.
My favourite freshwater swimming hole is … the Cotter. I haven’t been there for a long time, but I have many great memories from my childhood when we swam and picnicked there a lot.
The best beach on the NSW coast is … Rosedale (but don’t tell anyone). It’s a sleepy little beach south of Batemans Bay where the water is always clear, the beach is clean and the view over the ocean is amazing.
Aside from swimming and lounging on the sand/by the pool, when I’m on summer holidays I like to … play board games with my kids. It’s a period where we try to keep the TV off, and we have more time to spend together as a family. Now they are getting older its getting more fun. Our favourite at the moment is Articulate.
My favourite summer drink is … gin and tonic, while watching a sunset somewhere glorious. This is followed closely by a glass of something with bubbles!
My ice-cream of choice is … salted caramel. So bad but just so good.
The salads I like to eat in summer include … a pear, rocket and fennel salad and nicoise salad. They are easy and delicious.
The al fresco dining spots I’ll be hanging out in this summer are … the Hamlet in Braddon for an easy family dinner and Pulp Kitchen in Ainslie when we want to spoil ourselves.
The sport I’m looking forward to playing this summer is … walking – not really a sport but heading up the Mount Ainslie is one of the daily pleasures.
The sport I’m looking forward to watching this summer is … football (the one with the round ball). I have to wait a little while for the next World Cup qualifiers for the Socceroos, but hopefully in March we will be feeling good about our journey to Russia. I am also looking forward to my boys’ Futsal season continuing.
When it’s too hot to be outside I’ll be … at the cinema. The summer flicks I’m planning to see are Rogue One, Nocturnal Animals and Arrival.
On my holiday reading pile this year are … Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series (I think I am the only person who hasn’t read them), Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar and the High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martell.
If you’d like to share your responses to our My Summer cues, please log on and upload your own version for publication in coming weeks.