Besides a holiday to Scotland and my birthday, not much has really happened. I tell a lie, I've started my Christmas shopping (I know, I'm such a devil. Started it right at the beginning of August!) and I've been making a few bits and pieces. More on those to come later!
Besides the infestation... in-FESTIVE-tion... sorry, start again, besides the infestation of Christmas in early August, I have started to notice the subtle transition of summer to autumn. The days are progressively getting shorter and soon, it will be the case where you blink and you've missed all the light the day has to offer.
As I look across my neighbours' gardens, I hear the blackbird and robins' song has changed; it is louder, more striking and clearer. The apple tree over the wall is in full fruit and the flittering clusters of long tailed tits are foraging on the berries along the trellising.
The trees look tired and dry; their leaves turning a carci-green and more of their branches and trunk more visible through the thinning foliage. I can't help but think that autumn will come earlier this year than it has for a long time. Be ready for woodland walks like this...
As the mornings become more and more cool and crisp and the night air fresher, we have quite possibly seen the last of the long muggy days of the British summer. Mind you, I'm not complaining. Working in a shop which only has a ceiling fan and no air conditioning when it is muggy, is a challenge in it's own right!
I love the transition of the seasons, mainly because you don't have long to wait until the next season is in full swing. The dry freshly fallen crispy leaves underfoot are a joy to both children and adults and as autumn continues to roll in, the conker season will be in full whack once again.
Seeing the countries summer visitors return to their wintering home is always a sad sight to see but welcoming our winter visitors is just as much of a joy when we see the first swallow of the summer. I think to myself every year; 'I will make my home look autumnal' by this, I mean have vases filled with wheat and barley ears, dried leaf wreaths hanging on the doors and garlands of clustered pine cones and acorns adorning the mantelpiece. Sounds very brown... but done right, can look golden!
So instead of complaining about the shortening days and the wind having a more noticeable bite, lets embrace our British seasons and get out there and love every second of it!
Lets face it, it isn't long till hallowe'en, small jump then it is bonfire night, a hop and a jump and it will be Christmas...!
