Summer in Sydney means ... ocean pools, snacks and icy-cold movie theatres

What does a Sydney summer mean to you?

Long, lazy days involving friends, family and food – when one meal blurs into the next in a sea of snacks and bubbly drinks. Psyching myself up for that first summer trip to the beach and then realising that it’s not that hard – and nothing beats it.

Earliest memory of summer in Sydney?

Sticky, inescapable and uncomfortable heat. My family arrived in Sydney in the middle of a heatwave from Germany, and I was not used to hot weather. I spent quite some time on the floor of our fibro rental in Hurstville with a cloth soaked in icy cold water draped over me. It didn’t take long to acclimatise though: other early summer memories for me are yellow-and-white striped banana lounges on the spiky buffalo grass of our backyard; rigging a sprinkler to the Hills Hoist and eating passionfruit from our neighbours’ vine.

Mahon Pool at Maroubra. A novel plus an ocean pool is my favourite summer escape.Credit: Ben Rushton

First place you take visitors?

For a swim (Maroubra Beach for wave lovers, Mahon Pool for haters), followed by some snacks and drinks out of the sun at the Marrickville Hotel.

When the weather gets hot I …

Complain, then buy new swimmers.

Favourite cafe?

Kurumac in Marrickville. A perfect combo of delicious, comforting food, friendly staff and excellent coffee.

Secret spot you escape to?

There’s no one spot, but the combination of a novel and any ocean pool or harbour beach (no waves please) is my favourite summer escape.

The best summer food is …

Snacks! Anything small that’s packed with deliciousness: anchovies on potato chips (thank you, Alison Roman), plump Sicilian olives, fresh oysters, Kettle chilli chips (though I would eat these at any time of the year) and the ultimate snack: panipuri, an Indian street food of potato, spicy water, tamarind chutney and more stuffed into a deep-fried, hollow flatbread. My sister and brother-in-law make them for our family every Boxing Day.

I know it’s summer when I smell …

The night jasmine blooming in our backyard.

Redleaf Beach at Double Bay.Credit: James Alcock

My favourite summer song is…

One that inspires me to wind down the car windows and sing along. At the moment it’s Protoje’s Who Knows and anything by Joy Crookes.

The worst thing about summer is …

When you’re not on holiday: the sweaty walk to the train station, the even sweatier commute, and other people’s holiday posts on social media.

My closest bolthole is …

It’s not that close, but I love a late afternoon swim at Redleaf pool in Double Bay.

Guilty pleasure?

I feel zero guilt about this, but I love going to see a movie – any movie but preferably a Marvel blockbuster – to sit in that icy-cold air-conditioned theatre.

What aspect of summer life would you change, and what do you want to always stay the same?

I love that period between Christmas and New Year’s when the city empties; it’s one of my favourite times to be in Sydney. What would I change? Maybe the fact I’m not on holiday for 100 per cent of January.

Summer in Sydney is a series where Herald staff reveal the best – and worst – of our city in the hotter months.

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