Saturday 12 September
Oh my, I love Saturday mornings. That feeling, after a challenging week at work, of waking up when your ready rather than when the alarm tells you. Then, a large cup of fresh coffee in bed and a few chapters of my book.
This morning, we went on a balmy, late summer walk just over the Suffolk border. Walking from the Royal Harwich Yacht Club marina at Wolverstone to Pin Mill and back again. I always reach September and think, that’s it, summers over, time to batten down the hatches and light the fire. But, in actual fact, there are still plenty of potentially warm weather days left. You just hope they fall on the weekend. Today was one of those days.
Mabel was off the lead and running as she should. Smiles were all around. Despite us all managing our own life burdens. We all carry them around with us like emotional backpacks; on some days they feel heavier than on others. Today, I felt I was able to leave mine in the car and forget things for a short while.
I am realising that September, and this transitional stage between Summer and Autumn, is a real sensory blast. The light is dramatically changeable, bright sunshine to overcast grey in seconds. In the mornings and particularly in the evenings, a little cloud can really alter the light levels. The sun is spending more of the day lower in the sky, so is at your eye level for longer periods.
But it’s the smells that I am noticing most. When the warmth of daytime dissipates and the cool evening temperature builds, so the smells from the land seem louder. Where we live, onions are being harvested and apples are ripening. Both smells are sweet and warm in the nostrils. Those two smells themselves could identify this time of year, indeed this month.
The Bald Birder 