Day 52 Week 7

My Grandmother always used to say that she hated the still, dark days before Christmas. It's as if the icy grip of darkness takes hold of time and shuts out as much light as it possibly can. Not only are the days meagrely short but the clouds have provided a deep roof to keep out any chance of a glimpse of the sun.

Been musing over the relationship between the weather and social interaction. When the day belongs to a bright fresh sunny Spring, then thoughts run to walking through bluebell woods, or along the river and through the water meadows covered in delicate flora dancing in the gentle breeze. The background music would be birdsong, including the menacing cuckoo, and the bleating of new born lambs. Spring is hopeful.

Given the same time in Autumn and again it would be walking, but this time through the woods of gold and ochre with the smell of distant smoke from bonfires and being wrapped up because although the sun shines a spectacularly clear light, the wind can bite and the cheeks are bright red. The song of autumn is the cracking of wood and leaves underfoot and the birds gathering for their migration south. Autumn is retiring.

Summer and it's a picnic, again out in the country or by the river. And it's lying on a blanket or the warm dry grass with friends or a loved one, drinking wine and eating delicious goodies and then lying back in the warm air to watch the clouds drift overhead and perhaps fall asleep. Summer's smell is newly mown grass and her tune is definitely the bumble bee and trickling water. That said, Summer can also be the beach of course, with the sea gently tumbling up and down on the shingle or sand, and the wind blowing on shore and children laughing in the distance with the gulls cawing overhead. Summer is bewitching.

But here we are at the end of autumn and on the cusp of winter. Not the glistening, sparkling winter of freshly fallen snow but the dirty drab winter of scurrying through the cold and austere greyness. Winter is definitely the end of the year.

H texted and all going very well. R back at uni and when I spoke to my neighbour noise and anti-social behaviour not mentioned so maybe she was good after all.

Hope everyone and their loved ones safe and well. Fellow soldier's Mum holding on too.

Lots of love and prayers.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x