When the sun shines in my part of the world, it often seems to be accompanied by the familiar, smoky smell that emanates from the barbecues of the neighbourhood.
For many of us, a barbeque is a signal that we are in the middle of the summer months.
There's something about such occasions that acts as a constant reminder of the possibility of having fun, being sociable and keeping in touch with friends and family.
In many traditions, there is great importance given to sharing a meal with loved ones.
The act of sitting down to eat together is seen as a way of bringing each other closer.
This goes some way to explaining why barbecues are viewed as being such happy occasions for many of us.
A further reason lies in the fact that these are events that take place outdoors.
Cooking and eating in the open air gives a unique atmosphere.
It promises something that we can all take part in, with the cooking being much more visible than might otherwise be the case, as on the greater number of occasions where it would take place in a kitchen.
For those of us who live in parts of the world where the weather can rarely be guaranteed, there is a special pleasure in just being able to get outdoors and share that time with others.
All of this goes towards making the act of having a barbecues seem so much more special.
When I host such events, I'm always aware of the importance of getting everyone involved.
People love to feel that they're playing a full role in the day.
Fortunately, there are enough simple tasks that need to be done that you can always make sure that everyone has a little something to do.
While I generally concentrate on the cooking, making the most of my Weber S650, others are usually extremely willing to assist with the other tasks that all help to add to that special barbeque atmosphere.