Within a week, the weather has gone from cool enough for it still to be advisable to wear a vest, to too hot for doing anything other than sit in the shade.  Summer has arrived in Britain all in a great tearing rush.

To avoid the inevitable jam on the road from Hastings to Bexhill, I went out bright and early yesterday to buy supplies for a DIY job which I  may or may not be able to face completing this weekend.  I was not alone.

It must be summer – the piles of garden supplies, the plants so near to death they’re on special offer, the casually dressed shoppers, all t-shirts, shorts, sun hats and sandals, and lovely blue sky.

There will be some scorched skin by the end of the day.