Sunday, September 14, 2008

Seasons

Around the world the changing of the seasons is distinguished in many different ways. And so too here in Britain; but no sudden onset of monsoon rains; dulcet, velvety snowfall; full moons or gophers checking their silhouettes for us. No, here the seasons cannot be distinguished by something so simple as meteorology, we're far too subtle for that (plus we have no weather to speak of - although that has never stopped the English from doing exactly that; incessantly). Instead one has to look at something far more reliable than the British weather: the British traffic. Anxious mothers in their unsuitably large Chelsea tractors, carrying their precious progeny, now vie with work commuters for the limited road space and ensure that nobody gets anywhere on time.

Whilst writing this post I've also realised that a year has gone full circle since I returned. A lot, and yet also very little, has happened since then. As always time is adept at playing tricks with your mind: looking forward a year seems endlessly long, and yet in hindsight is as fleeting and ephemeral as the life of a mayfly.

1 comment:

Shammickite said...

So.... when's the next trip?

Traffic reflects the changing seasons here too. The day after Labour Day at the start of September means schools are back, school buses are on the road, teachers are driving to schools, uni students are heading back to their campuses, most holidays are over and office workers are back at work, and traffic is horrendous! Especially if it rains and the roads are wet on the first day back to work. And of course, all that road construction and repair that should have been completed over the summer is dragging on into September and October slowing everyone up!
Ahhh civilisation.
What would we do without it???