Funfare for the Common Man

Just days ago I was contemplating yet another end of summer and reminiscing on summers past, was sitting on the embankment looking out over the water, watching a fisherman wading into the murky waters, up to his waist, calmly and patiently casting his rod into the reeds, when I opened up to the start of chapter 2 of my book and came upon this lovely passage, as if there was an inner spirt in my kindle tapping into my thoughts. My goodness, it was so apt:  ‘Melanie swam like a blind, earless fish in a sea of sedation, where there was no time or memory but only dreams. Summer changed to autumn before she surfaced and lay palely on her bed, remembering.’ The Magic Toyshop , Angela Carter J une 2006, the World Cup in Germany: a fun month in an up-and-down summer I’ve written about the seasons and weather way too many times on this blog over the years and I don’t want to rehash yet again about how much I adore autumn and dislike summer. A very brief summery (sorry): I struggle with heat...

Pieter Bruegel, The Hunters in the Snow, © Public Domain Don’t be in such a rush to welcome spring. For my Ukrainian friends and readers, it’s the start of spring. For most of the rest of us, we’re still about 3 weeks away, with the spring equinox on 20 March. What’s the hurry? This aeon.co article, which I turn to for solace once or twice a year, captures it best: Winter is a time of regeneration: we’ll miss it when it’s gone ‘Winter, for me, is a period of reflection and regeneration, of withdrawal, reminiscent of a time when humans were forced to be more malleable and responsive to the seasons.’ I can’t say I necessarily love winter. And no, I don’t particularly like snow, especially when living in a city, and especially in a city that does such a lousy job of clearing streets and pavements, and where deadly icicles dangle perilously from the rooftops, waiting to impale those who walk underneath. In short, where public safety is an afterthought. Never mind that: I like the cosin...