Word of the Week

Time flying again and before I knew it Friday was here; Word of the Week time!


I'm being a bit predictable today and the word is ...

Of course there's nothing screams 'Autumn!' like changing the clocks.  The extra hour in bed is just a joy; waking up at the usual time then remembering that you don't have to stir for another hour - bliss!

Walking down to Abingdon I'm noticing more leaves falling, a slightly damp feeling in the air and that rotting leaf smell which sounds yuk but is really rather pleasant.

Yesterday I walked t the folly in Abingdon's Abbey Gardens with OH.  It was a work project for him and I thought it would be nice to go too.  I'm often aware how living in a place blinds you to its glories - it's all ordinary and familiar, you just stop seeing things.  So it was lovely to pop down to the folly and enjoy it. 

Not an autumn shot I know but I forgot to take my camera!
The added bonus, for me at least, was all the squirrels!  There were so many of them, running up and down the tree branches, squabbling and most wonderful of all sitting under the trees nibbling fruits and nuts from the trees.  If I stood very still and quiet I could get quite close to them.  I love squirrels, I love the fluid way they move, the ease with which they run up and down the trees and the way their tails flow behind them like furry trains.

Maybe the Word of the Week should have been squirrels!

The Prompt - My Favourite Season

#ThePrompt has got me thinking about seasons.  Rather apt as we move seamlessly into autumn.  It's tempting to wander down the 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' route but let's see if I can avoid getting stuck in a Romantic cul-de-dac.


Keeping It Seasonal.

Thinking about the seasons makes me think about my childhood.  Winters were snowier, springs were warmer and full of bluebells, summers were sunnier and much longer and autumns were crisper with tons of conkers.

I grew up in a large city so the seasonal changes were less vital to me.  Yes, the weather changed but mostly things plodded on as usual.  It took a severe weather event to impact upon our lives - snow rarely closed our school in the way a more rural school may have been.  Rain just meant get an umbrella out, it didn't cause flooding that devastated lives and homes.

That's not to say that I was unaware of the passing seasons.  We celebrated the coming of autumn with Harvest Festival, summer meant Sports Day.  But my childhood memories that are season-specific are summer memories.  Sunbathing in the park instead of revising for A levels; family holidays in caravans around the South West; sitting in a deckchair listening to the Test commentary on the radio with Dad; leaning over the bridge to wave to the train drivers; making a den in the garden; eating lunch on the lawn; white ankle socks and sandals; paddling in the park (just don't mention the broken glass incident).

But wait, I hear you say, The Prompt was about the favourite season, not just the one with most memories.  But, I reply, my favourite season has changed! When I was young it was summer - the lovely long sunny days away from school, spending hours out and about.  Now I'm older I love autumn; the cooling temperatures mean I can put more layers on (I'm always happier covered up!); the cool weather fashion of scarves, hats, gloves and woollies; the welcoming warmth of a mug of hot chocolate; soup for lunch; golden leaves fluttering down on my walk to the shops; the extra hour in bed when we change the clocks (why can't we do that every month/week?) 

So hurrah for autumn! Here's to the woollies and the warmth, feeling cosy wrapped up in wool, coming over all John Keats every time I walk under a tree!  

Word of the Week

#WOTW time again and can you believe I almost forgot?!?

This week has been all about

I've been 'commissioned' to write a SOW on An Inspector Calls and this has been taking up most of my time this week.  I admit to the occasional lapse but I've been rather good and have got plenty done.  The deadline is next week so with about half of the writing done I should be ok.

Small steps ... progress ... Good lord I almost sound positive!

Joy

#ThePrompt - Joy

I started off by looking 'joy' up in the dictionary - great happiness or a person or thing that causes happiness.  This didn't fill me with inspiration so I just decided to 'go with the flow' so let's see what happens ...

Joy

The clock crept slowly, oh so slowly towards 3 o'clock.  It had been 5 minutes to 3 for about 10 minutes; then 3 minutes to 3 for 15 minutes; the final minute had so far taken 3 hours and showed no signs of ending.

The noise in the room reached yet another crescendo and she looked up from her desk, peering over her glasses until it went quiet.  With a sigh she closed her book, clipped the top on her pen and stood up.

Thirty two expectant faces turned towards her.  Eager faces, hanging on her every word.  The power she had; power over these lives.  Whatever she said next would make or break their weekend.  She smoothed the wrinkles out of her skirt, removed her glasses and coughed to get their attention.

The minute hand finally reached 3 o'clock.  She breathed in deeply.  Here came her moment of joy.

"Class dismissed.  See you all on Monday."