Early this year, not sure why but quite different from its Spring and Summer song
There is a melancholy echoing quality about this sound which tugs at the heartstrings.
It was early morning and my windows were open wide so it was not accompanied by a million other birds as it would be later in the day.
This has been a very strange season with extreme heat, sudden plunges to much lower temperatures and a petal-curling, leaf-drying drought.
This morning there was a light shower and it was then the robin sang.
Maybe it was only "good, there will be worms for breakfast", but it sounded like a saraband or other slow mournful tune.
Never a lover of hot weather I hope it will prove to be the signal for temperatures to drop a notch, for soft rain and light breezes to replace what we have had in recent weeks.
Rather a lot to pin on the solitary song of one small bird but it is a bookmark in the days of the year which I have come to rely on.
I am tired of the Olympics (splendid though they have been), fed up with noisy crowds yelling and cheering. More than a little sick of the smell of charring meat on a thousand barbeques.
Time for a change in the pace of life.
Time for Autumn.
One of the things I appreciate most about living in the UK is both the changeable weather and the changing seasons. Relentless heat and sunshine is not for me. Neither is relentless cold, wind or rain. As for the Olympics I appreciate the achievements of outstanding athletes but am fed up with all the BBC news coverage of Rio being mostly about 'Team GB'. I have wanted to shout at the TV - 'it's not all about us - this is an international event, or have you forgotten that?'
ReplyDeleteYes I do so agree Nancy. Mount Olympus was not (amazing though it might seem) a town in the UK.
DeleteNevertheless i have to admit to a sneaking delight that we beat China in the medal stakes.
We are just a tiny bit cooler this morning, and everyone is rejoicing. Still blisteringly hot in the afternoons and probably will be for some time (someone described September as August: The Sequel) but the signs are unmistakable that fall is coming. I too will be very glad.
ReplyDeleteJust proof that you really can have too much of a good thing.:-)
DeleteGlad to see a new entry from you, Ray. I too heard that autumn song from the robin, and saw both him and his Wife early sunday morning. Here the hot summerdays are back for a quick visit, the geese are flying crisscross over the sky and when we took a walk in the woods it had a different smell. So, your mr Robin is very right, there is a change coming in and it's not all bad, you know. Rest from the buzzing and shoving of summerlife, festivals and Olympics is quite nice. And don't forget .....CHOIRPRACTISE!!!
ReplyDeleteI think my robin was a little premature this time as today our temperature is 31 degrees. It is 6.17 pm and is too blazingly hot to water the poor dry garden.
DeleteJust a couple of days rain would help, but all we have seen for several weeks is thin drizzle which doesn't even damp the ground.
Maybe the robin is using the wrong calendar.
Choir practice starts on the 2nd September.
Nothing wrong with being a bit ahead of your time, many great inventions have been made that way. Though I can't think of any real good ones right now....at least the robin has already began choirpractise. We start, hopefully, next week. By the way, have you incidently seen the film about Florence Foster Jenkins?? We are planning to see it on sunday evening, I expect it to be good.
ReplyDeleteI'll hope and pray for temperaturefall and rain!!!!
No I haven't seen the film, I haven't been in a cinema for more than 35 years, but will eventually see it on TV I expect/
ReplyDeleteShe was a very strange lady and a lot of my childhood nightmares about singing out of tune were based on listening to her recordings.
Enjoy.
Indeed I will, goodness me, nightmares was it?? I'll report back to you on monday!!
DeleteI wish I could identify changing bird song this way. I love the seasons and feel sad that we seem to be losing them a little to all year round damp and grey (although it may just be my nostalgia that makes me think we used to have sunny summers, bright springs, cold winters and mellow autumns.)
ReplyDeleteThe reason I can identify some bird song is that I am a member of the Garden Birdwatch scheme run by the BTO and have been concentrating on my own small local patch for about 20 years.
DeleteAs to the change in seasons I think you are absolutely right, there is almost no clear pattern anymore and sadly, for me at least, the Summers are getting hotter and more humid all the time.
I've been thinking much the same things as you, only I am a bit sad that summer is coming to an end. Blessings from Dalamory
ReplyDeleteI love Summer but not very hot weather, even at this minute (10.28 pm) it is so hot in this room that I am soaked with sweat and dreading going to bed in my West-facing bedroom.
DeleteMy hair is literally dripping - really not nice.
Some rain would be so welcome but there seems no prospect of any at present.
Blessings to you and yours likewise Freda.