by Sean Paul Curry 

I am going to throw this out there: Summer is here! It has been a fabulous week, although the past 24 hours not so much. But we must enjoy it while we get it.

The difference sunshine can make to your general health is incredible. You get out and about more, you drink more water and it leaves you with a big smile on your face.

There really is nothing better than a tasty BBQ when the good weather is here. Just the other week I had finished work and was welcomed home with the smell of burning charcoal. There is something about food cooked on a BBQ that makes it taste that bit more delicious.

A BBQ in my house means one thing: family time. Sometimes there could be up to 15 of us. I love going to get the food. There is always a great buzz as many are out and about for the same reason.

Summer also means holidays away with friends or family and whether that means holidaying in Portrush or Majorca, we all go for the same reasons: to forget about our work and our worries, to relax and spend time with our friends and family and most importantly create everlasting memories to cherish forever.

I was very lucky to have hardworking parents who brought us to Spain when we were younger. I loved it; days by the pool and on the beach, out for dinner most nights while listening to a mixture of good music and bad karaoke! We used to go for weekend trips to Portrush, too, as we have family living there. I loved going to the beach or the Giants Causeway as well as catching a game or two at the Milk Cup.

I always find that right up until the moment before you take your holiday you always find yourself working harder which makes your time away more enjoyable. Being able to sit back relax and not have to worry about this customer or that deadline. Living in a stress free environment is a luxury we should not take for granted.

For young people, summer especially represents freedom after 10 long months of working hard and learning. I always had to work hard at school so the summer was always the light at the end of tunnel for me. 

Summer is something we all look forward to and no matter where you spend it or who you spend it with we should be grateful for the time we get to spend with family and friends. I know I am.