Recently read (Daily Telegraph) that AngloSaxons divided the year into two halves: light and dark, from equinox to equinox. The improbably equal four seasons came later. Worshipping the sun is not good. But we must be aware of its importance in our lives. Not a god, but we can be sure it exists.
October is transition from light and warm to dark and cool. Here in Canterbury we’ve had some lovely sunny days, some dull wet ones. A night with ground frost. Leaves of deciduous trees change colour. Apples are picked. Blackberries become pippy. Prime Minister U-turns, possibly not due to the season. Difficult for walkers. How to dress for 4 deg morning, maybe rising to 16 deg? Layers. Rain possible. How to carry excess layers?
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. In my case sloes. Like to make sloe vodka. May be too late. Use gathering skills, like our remote ancestors. Start with a short local walk to where some blackthorns are.
Sun Oct 16th, 9 am, 10 deg C, sunny. Namibia have just beaten Sri Lanka in Geelong in T20 world cup. Hello to Nathan with very white dog. Dry earthen path between hedges. Past allotment. Reverse direction on other side of hedge, next to recently ploughed field. A runner. Dog walkers. Agreed great morning. Saw blackthorn bush but not the small purple fruit, or sloes. Hurt damaged foot on rough ground. Reluctant to walk nearer the bushes. Felt need to explain to woman why i was staring into hedge. She’d heard of sloe gin but didn’t know what sloes are.
Good walk. blue sky, wisps of cloud. Last year also found no sloes here.
Keep looking.
Recently read “The unnatural woman” by local artist and author Dave Asthouart. In Trueway, an apparent utopia, nudity is the rule. Steph rebels by wearing a red dress…Book available from Amazon bookstore.
Rambling Brummie 