Summer leaves

Now, you looked twice at the title of this posting, didn't you? Poet and painter from time immemorial have tried to capture in their respective mediums the glories of the Autumn, particularly the deciduous delight which is known in the US as the Fall and when leaves turn every shade of red, brown, amber and orange, before they, well, leave their branches and once again the perfectly-rounded cycle of nature turns.
However, that's maybe a subject for six weeks or more hence here in the South of England at least, just before the gloomy nights of November set in once daylight saving time (BST) ends. Instead, I'm focussing in this late night blog on the thoughts and emotions that the departure of the warmest, lightest season of the year brings tonight. The summer of 05 has now gone in the Northern Hemisphere; it's the Autumnal Equinox and although the mild temperatures bely it, the last season of our Northern year is with us again. It's all downhill twixt now and Christmas :-( Summer leaves, hopefully to return again in nine months time. Well, it was good while it lasted!

For my part, I've had a last gasp of summer and sea air at my "other" home here on the South Coast tonight where I came to support the poorly-attended house group I was a regular at while I was working and living here full time during the week. The downside is that means an early start tomorrow as I head back to London for the last day of the working week, but at least I'm guaranteed a seat and a snooze, noisy commuters and manic mobiles not withstanding, on the 90 minute or so journey to Victoria.

Not that I mind rising before dawn; my employer has been holding a conference all this week for 32 delegates which has really kept me on my toes and working from before 8.30 in the morning til 7.30 at night one evening, without even a lunch break. But moaning, moi? Not a bit of it: I love it, and I've been well fed too, both spiritually and literally.
Somehow, like the seasons getting into gear with the bursts of energy and change each three months brings, I've been in my element! In fact, it's been one of the most enjoyable parts of my working life since my BBC days, which seem a very long time ago now. The course finishes tomorrow, and I shall miss the delegates, every one of them. Here's to the next one in March, as Le Printemps puts a spring in our step and a not so young man's fancy once again turns to hard work! God hallows the seasons: it's Harvest Festival in many churches including my Feltham this weekend, and we're reminded that "Thou visitest the earth, thou crownest the years with thy blessings". Amen to that!