OMG, summer has arrived! Or at least you would think so, the way everyone is throwing off their clothes and organising barbecues with gay abandon. (Please bear in mind that I'm writing this column to an early deadline, so don’t hold me responsible if typhoon-level rains are lashing at your window as you read this).

Yes, we’re having a heatwave, as the song goes. Alternative music is available; hark, is that the ice cream van I hear in the middle distance? I’ve yet to see this mythical vehicle, but often hear its chimes belting out Greensleeves. Yes, Mr Softee lives another day.

It always surprises me that we’re surprised, as warm weather isn’t exactly unusual at the time of year, although this year’s temperatures are breaking records by reaching close to 30 degrees in the South-East – at least here in the coastal South West, we have the benefit of a sea breeze.

Remember the early days of lockdown, when we sat in the garden marvelling at the clement weather and the sound of a distant woodpecker, for once undimmed by the hustle and bustle of daily life? Every day at 4pm, the Other Half (OH) would knock off the homeworking to join furloughed me and home-schooled Daughter for a walk, in shorts and T-shirts. Those are fond memories, despite the nasty sting in the tail of a global pandemic.

One thing is for sure: just as traffic grinds to a halt and we reach for our sledges at the slightest flurry of snow, so we pack away our winter jumpers, break into summer clothes and flock to the beach as soon as the sun peeps out from behind a cloud.

Guilty as charged. Last night, the three of us piled into the car and headed straight to our favourite stretch of sand, at Carne on the Roseland peninsula. OH and Daughter even swam in the freezing briny; I made my excuses, contenting myself with taking pictures and going all mindful on the sheer number of blues and greens on vibrant display, while crucially staying warm.

Summer also means cocktails in the garden. I was intrigued by a recipe that found its way into my inbox. You’ve probably ended a meal with an affogato before: a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in strong black coffee. I’m quite partial to one myself. But how do you feel about a wine affogato?

I initially thought this collaboration between Asda and influencer Sophia Longhi sounded like a dreadful waste of wine, but the more I consider it – a generous scoop of Asda’s Raspberry Pavlova ice cream plus 50ml of its Côtes de Provence, topped with mixed berries – well, just writing those words, I want one NOW.

Why have they done it? Because the hotter weather has seen refreshing rosé searches almost double, while ice cream sales are up by two-thirds. We are so predictable. It’s also inspired by Gen Z’s twin love of ice cream and wine; I’m not sure Daughter will be trying this one just yet, so maybe I’ll just have to have two.

Meanwhile, fridge manufacturer Beko has got in on the act by reminding us of the importance of a fridge-cleaning routine. A recent YouGov survey revealed that a quarter of households give theirs a wipe every three months, with a filthy eight per cent struggling to manage twice yearly. Around a thousand people stick the words “fridge odours” in their search engine every month.

I’m not sure I want to admit where I am on that chart. Basically, if I open the fridge and think “yuk”, I clean it. Of course, my “yuk” might kick in some time after yours, which is why visitors aren’t allowed anywhere near my fridge.

There have been some strange pongs emanating from within of late, but they lessened considerably once I’d chucked the unfinished Christmas Stilton into the food waste caddy for its first collection in, ahem, March.

Beko recommends a combo of a regular cleaning routine and good food storage habits. They suggest – get this – cleaning once a week, and switching your fridge off monthly for a deep clean. Where do they think we’ll find the time for this, in between beach trips and fashioning funky desserts?

As for storing food, glass containers are recommended for strong-smelling leftovers as they resist absorbing odours more than their plastic counterparts. This I can well imagine – I have some Tupperware-style containers that are indelibly stained with turmeric and whiff of several years’ worth of curry.

Anyway, I’d best crack on. Following the beach trip, OH was inspired to book dinner on the coast and take his parents. True to form, it’s looking a bit cloudy out there now, and I need to dig out some jumpers...