An English country girl in California: An international summer Season, from FOGG Fest to the Country Life Fair

One drawback of being in America is how much of the traditional English summer season I miss. The yearly round of garden parties and picnics, Wimbledon, Glorious Goodwood, the CLA Game Fair, Henley Royal Regatta… Admittedly, I’ve always had to decline invitations to the rowing world’s Mecca because it clashes with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the lure of a pass into the hallowed Paddock as a production assistant for Hayfisher, who provide the big-screen coverage at the track, always proved irresistible. Silverstone, essentially a field in Northamptonshire, is generally as cold in July as it is when I hunt nearby with the Bicester with Whaddon Chase in January, but, for me, it still heralds the start of the summer social round. Of course, all those will be there in future years. What really hurts is the number of weddings I have missed due to this adventure. Five last year, four this year so far. Sadly, my wish to meet a dashing young chap with a private jet to whisk me home for the odd weekend has yet to be fulfilled…

The view from my old hill on a perfect English summer's day

At Glorious Goodwood with model-turned-jockey Tricia Ronane

Can anything beat summer-evening light? With my father at Croome Court

Quintessentially English: cricket at Parham under the South Downs

Louise, me, Heidi and Miriam at a summer wedding in Devon.

All four hats made by the ever elegant Miriam (right)

of Miriam Robertson Millinery

The entrance to the Formula One Paddock at Silverstone.

I got ridiculously excited every time I swiped my pass to get inside these gates!

But I’m not complaining, because California is not exactly a wasteland when it comes to enjoying the summer. Future events include the glamorous annual horse show at Menlo Park, the even more glamorous Pebble Beach car show at Carmel and the ‘World’s Fastest Rodeo’ in Livermore. Royal Ascot will surely have nothing on a cowboy’s idea of a good day out. There’s even a wedding – in Toronto, as it happens, but at least I’ll get there. In San Francisco itself, there are all kinds of mad events, such as the bonkers Bay to Breakers run last Sunday. Remarkably, it is the oldest consecutively run foot race in the world and still attracts a goodly number of serious runners, but for most people, it is a 12km costume party that spends an awful lot of its time hanging out in the Panhandle drinking thinly disguised cocktails and dancing to pop-up bands. As is typical with these things, lots of local people end the day in high dudgeon and writing disgruntled letters about the mess and debauchery. No doubt it’s not much fun to have your neighbourhood invaded by people whose idea of a run is a stagger, but this is San Francisco, and from what I saw, it’s all good-humoured stuff. Perhaps it might help to encourage revelers to remember it is supposed to be a ‘race’ and to continue on down through the Golden Gate Park to festivities on the beach, allowing the rest of the route to quieten down, but it would be a tremendous shame if this San Francisco institution were to end because a few people go too far with the drinking and not far enough with the running.

'Runners' in the Panhandle

From running to revelling

Giraffes in the city? Why, of course!

A slightly less debauched annual highlight is FOGG Fest, held on Crissy Field on June 19^th. An annual event organized by the Friends of the Golden Gate (FOGG), it promises to be a proper, chilled-out Californian night in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, and I am assured that Karl the Fog usually lets us see the sunset. FOGG supports the Parks Conservancy by raising awareness and support among 21-40-year-olds in the Bay area and runs various events in the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, of which FOGG Fest is the high point. In the spirit of volunteering for a good cause, as so many people do in this essentially philanthropic city, I’ve been helping to drum up ticket sales and donations. The night looks set to be a good one, with a gourmet barbecue, plenty to drink and dancing to a Utah-based Indie-folk band with the fabulously appropriate name The National Parks. Tickets cost $45, and include six months’ membership of the Conservancy and invitations to events such as candlelit tours of Fort Point (definitely on my bucket list). There’s also a silent auction with lots including spa treatments, curling lessons, a visit to Anchor SteamBrewery, tours of Grace Cathedral and lunch at the Mandarin Oriental – all worth a bid. Let’s hope Karl the Fog keeps his promise and lets the sun shine!

Looking down on Crissy Field on the kind of day we don't want!

Sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge. The kind of evening we do want!

Back in England, there is one event I wouldn’t dream of missing – the Country Life Fair. I spent seven memorable years as Deputy Chief Sub-editor of Country Life magazine, that quintessentially British institution chock full of articles on everything from art and architecture to cooking venison, growing snowdrops and finding the perfect beach for rockpooling, not to mention dogs, horses, picturesque cattle and even the odd human. I loved working there and am still proud to be part of the Country Life family. This year, the inaugural Fair will bring it all together in the grounds of Fulham Palace in west London. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has just been announced as Royal Patron of the Fair, continuing his interest in wildlife, and befitting a fair whose literary alma mater was guest edited by The Prince of Wales last autumn. On September 27th and 28th, stands from around the UK will celebrate the best of British rural life, from conservation to country sports, horticulture to specialty food and traditional crafts. Companies taking a stand include gunmakers Holland & Holland, sculptor Hamish Mackie, makers of fine neckties Augustus Hare, Bluebell Vineyard, racehorse trainer Kim Bailey, cartoonist Oliver Preston, Bonhams, Knight Frank, sloe gin purveyors SloeMotion, the Really Wild Clothing Co and dozens more. It looks set to be a cracker of a weekend - so buy your tickets now at www.countrylifefair.co.uk. Use promo code OP14 to enter the prize draw for the chance to win some seriously good prizes, from shooting lessons to Hunter wellies, a Fortnum & Mason hamper, Musto clothing, a bronze wren and lots more. See you there!