Let’s Talk About The Weather

The autumn season is another of my favourite times of the year, even if it does herald the approach of winter and shorter, colder days. I love the shades of brown, red and yellow when the leaves change their colour, giving the trees a truly majestic beauty.

I love the smell of wood smoke that seems to permeate the air at this time of year and the early morning frosts that transform the landscape into a glistening wonderland. The thought of nature’s bounty to come; wild mushrooms, chestnuts, sloes and black berries. Even in the autumn of our lives there is a rich harvest to be had.

This is the time of year when the trees will soon be bare, their summer foliage stripped by shrewd winds under dark skies. No one can pretend that life will be easy on the cold and stormy days as well as the long and often wild and wet nights to come.

I have many times sat by the riverbank under dark and heavy rain clouds and enjoyed the best fishing ever. To arrive home after a good soaking and be met by a welcoming bowl of hot soup, eaten in front of a roaring fire. And then to have lain in bed at night, all snug and warm listening to the sound of rain on the windowpane.

Some of my most happy memories have been of this time of the year, my family and I would often go on skiing holidays during the winter months. The experience of walking through deep snow on a starlit night with the surrounding countryside appearing to be covered in white glistening jewels, gave you an understanding of how such a beautiful hymn as ‘Silent Night’ could have been inspired to be written.

What would we do without our climate? Even with a complete stranger we can immediately start a conversation by talking about the weather. It is a subject guaranteed to break down all barriers yet; in a different sense, climate can also be a barrier, for so much depends on the individual.

Take the person who is chilly to everyone they meet – they pass that chilliness on. Then there’s the person who’s cloudy, full of gloom, leaving you feeling miserable and what about the person who knows how to put the whole world to right, thundering on about everyone, and everything? Well at least that climate is invigorating, if somewhat exhausting!

Then there’s the person with a sunny climate, beaming at you in greeting, creating an immediate warm feeling. It makes you feel that even if the sun isn't actually shining, it will be very soon.

At this time of year we celebrate Halloween, Guy Fawkes and that most important date in our calendar ‘Christmas,’ which celebrates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

During the long dark evenings of winter as you relax in front of your fire with a soothing cup of hot chocolate, spare a thought for those less fortunate. Think to yourself, ‘How can I do more for others?’ Soon the answers will arrive in your mind and you will know exactly what to do for them. In blessing others you will be blessed.