Things you may not know about August
As we come to the end of July, I wonder what August has in store for you.
August is one of the most popular months to go on holiday, which means that unfortunately it can be expensive!
For those staying at home, let’s keep our fingers crossed for some more good weather so we can enjoy visiting our local parks, catching up with friends, al fresco dining, and of course an optional glass of sparkling Prosecco which tastes even better in summer.
August Celebrations
July 28th – 6th August Love Parks Week
Love Parks Week celebrates the efforts of volunteers and workers up and down the country who look after and protect our communal green spaces.
There’s nothing quite like a visit to a park and in Clitheroe we are lucky to have so many beautiful communal spaces, Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe Castle, Brungerley Park, to name a few and they are all well worth a visit.
If you are looking for something to do during the school holidays you can find more ideas here.
July 30 International Friendship Day
Friendship is a wonderful thing yet sometimes we are so busy we don’t get in touch as often as we’d like.
First introduced in 2011, International Friendship Day is a great excuse for us to reflect on our special friendships and reconnect with those we haven’t seen in a while.
August 8 – International Cat Day
I don’t have a cat myself but they are fascinating creatures, aren’t they? Hugely independent, curious and adventurous, and thought to have nine lives!
No one knows where this expression came from, but it has been around for centuries. Even William Shakespeare used the phrase in Romeo and Juliet:
‘Tybalt: What wouldst thou have with me? Mercutio: Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.’
There’s also an old English proverb that I quite like: ‘A cat has nine lives. He plays; for three, he strays for three, and for the last three, he stays.’
August 7th – 13th – National Allotment Week
This year, the theme for National Allotments Week is recognising the importance of gardening with nature in mind.
Allotments provide a haven for wildlife in built up areas and help to support our ecosystem, such as pollination.
I love using home grown vegetables in my cooking, there’s nothing quite like them for freshness and flavour. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone with an allotment so I usually buy mine from Clitheroe market! My recipe this month features plums, if you are lucky enough to have an allotment, find out how you can grow your own!
August 12 – Thoughtful Traveller Day
The tourism industry lost 1.78 trillion Euros due to the pandemic. All over the world, many jobs were lost, and businesses closed forever. The effect was felt globally, but countries with economies that depend on tourism were impacted the most. Now that the tourism industry has opened back up, these countries and their local businesses need our support more than ever.
You may be surprised that over a third of tourists from the UK read between four and 10 positive reviews before they are willing to visit a small business abroad. Two in five UK adults would not visit a foreign restaurant or tourist attraction without reading an online review.
Leaving a review for a small business abroad can mean the difference between winning or losing a customer. So today, on The Thoughtful Traveller Day, let’s think back to businesses we loved while we were on holiday and leave them a review.
August 13th National Prosecco Day
Great news, National Prosecco Day falls on a Sunday this year, so you can celebrate the day with a flute or two!. Prosecco is an Italian white wine made from the Prosecco grape and named after the village of Prosecco, near Trieste in north-eastern Italy.
Some consider Prosecco to be a cheaper and lower quality alternative to Champagne. However, the lower price doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an inferior quality wine. I always opt for a DOCG* Prosecco.
August 24th National Plum Day
Plums are almost a forgotten fruit these days, hopefully the third National Plum Day will change that. Bursting with vitamins and antioxidants plums can be used in sweet or savoury dishes or eaten as a snack. To do my bit, I have managed to dig out one of my old favourite plum recipes, why not give it a try! Download my plum recipe here!
August birthdays
Zodiac sign: Leo: 23rd July – 22nd August
Symbol: The Lion
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Colour: Orange, gold
Characteristics: Courageous, warm, energetic, intense, high self-esteem, adventurous, optimistic
Peridot is the modern birthstone for August and has colours ranging from yellow-green to brown. The light green or lime green variety has the strongest connection to August.
August birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, which are thought to represent beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.
Recipe of the month – Plum Clafoutis (pronounced “Kla-foo-tee”)
National Plum Day on August 24 inspires this month’s recipe, from my own archives!
This French classic dessert was one of the first desserts I made when I was a young new Pastry Chef in a 5 star hotel where I got my first job after I qualified, it seems like a very long time ago now…!
Whether it is because it was one of the first desserts I ever made or because the head chef was quite scary and I needed to impress him I’m sure, but, stick with me it has, and I still make this delicious dessert at home.
If you want a quick and easy finish to a meal and you like a simple dessert then you need to try this, it is a comforting mixture somewhere between a baked custard, a flan and a pancake! Download recipe here.
Enjoy August!
If you need a little gift inspiration for August, keep in touch with us on social media or subscribe to our monthly newsletter where you will get a sneak preview of our new arrivals!
Enjoy August, Aud’s
*In 2009 Prosecco DOCG was officially recognised by the Italian government’s agricultural ministry and the National Committee for Italian Wines (which regulates the DOCG and DOC systems). DOCG means designation of controlled and guaranteed origin while DOC stands simply for designation of controlled origin, without the guarantee).
Additional references:
- The Almanac (A seasonal guide to 2023) by
- AwarenessDays
- Gem Society
