Kick those leaves and light those fires. Ali Bacon celebrates Autumn.
Seriously, is there anyone who doesn't like Autumn? There are those who puff and pant their way through summer complaining about the heat, or who like me dread the dreariness of winter with its cold feet and chilblains - ugh! And however lovely spring can be, how many days of it do we usually get between the blizzard and the heat-wave? On our wedding day in Scotland it actually snowed - and that was in April.
But autumn! I feel a collective sigh of appreciation going round. Even for those without a personal orchard, mellow fruitfulness can be found in abundance in the hedgerows: - sloes, damsons and blackberries. Scavenging - we love it! Then there's that feeling of pleasant wistfulness that goes with misty mornings and low sun through the trees as one year dwindles into another. Kick those leaves and light those fires. Autumn perpares us for what is to come - soon I might be ready for hygge after all.
All these meanderings were brought on by our trip on Saturday to St Werbug's City Farm in Bristol which was celebrating its annual Apple Day, a well-named event as there were apples everywhere: some still on the trees, some rotting underfoot but the majority being put to good use in apple tastings, apple cake, mulled cider and apple juice.
All kinds of Heritage varieties were being put to press, covered in toffee or just boxed up ready for us to try. Yes there was a shower of rain but nothing too severe and no one was too hot - or too cold to stand for a while and listen to the traditional music in the mini- amphitheatre.
In early autumn particularly I also have a sense of new beginnings, September/October a better time than January, I always think, to take stock, declutter and move forward 'leaner and fitter' before the onset of the mince pie season. And with that in mind I've made the difficult decision to gve up my place on Authors Electric to devote my time to other things. I've really enjoyed being here (I must be one of the longest serving members by now!) and also benefited from the discipline of these monthly posts. But nothing is forever (no, Justin Hayward, not even autumn!) and I 've recently joined another writing cooperative with its own demands on my writing time - not to mention the need to get on with another book.
Luckily I have persuaded another writer friend to take my place, and either from next month or sometime soon you will be meeting Clare Weiner. I have met Clare, who writes as Mari Howard, in the real world as well as online, so I am very happy she will be taking my place and bringing you her perceptive thoughts.
I can also recommend her two Mullins family novels which are engaging and thought-provoking, exploring the crossover of science, religion and genetics. Clare/Mari is an artist as well as a writer and I think you will find her excellent company.
So that's it from me! Many thanks for your excellent company in the last few years. As it happens, I am off to another harvest tomorrow, helping bring in the grapes at a small local vineyard. If you want to know how that and other things turn out, do keep in touch via Twitter @AliBacon or Facebook.
Ali Bacon writes contemporary and historical fiction, mostly with a Scottish flavour.
Her latest novel, In the Blink of an Eye appeared on the ASLS Best Scottish Books of 2018
All these meanderings were brought on by our trip on Saturday to St Werbug's City Farm in Bristol which was celebrating its annual Apple Day, a well-named event as there were apples everywhere: some still on the trees, some rotting underfoot but the majority being put to good use in apple tastings, apple cake, mulled cider and apple juice.
All kinds of Heritage varieties were being put to press, covered in toffee or just boxed up ready for us to try. Yes there was a shower of rain but nothing too severe and no one was too hot - or too cold to stand for a while and listen to the traditional music in the mini- amphitheatre.
 |
Apple tasting |
In early autumn particularly I also have a sense of new beginnings, September/October a better time than January, I always think, to take stock, declutter and move forward 'leaner and fitter' before the onset of the mince pie season. And with that in mind I've made the difficult decision to gve up my place on Authors Electric to devote my time to other things. I've really enjoyed being here (I must be one of the longest serving members by now!) and also benefited from the discipline of these monthly posts. But nothing is forever (no, Justin Hayward, not even autumn!) and I 've recently joined another writing cooperative with its own demands on my writing time - not to mention the need to get on with another book.
 |
| Welcome Clare/Mari |
I can also recommend her two Mullins family novels which are engaging and thought-provoking, exploring the crossover of science, religion and genetics. Clare/Mari is an artist as well as a writer and I think you will find her excellent company.
So that's it from me! Many thanks for your excellent company in the last few years. As it happens, I am off to another harvest tomorrow, helping bring in the grapes at a small local vineyard. If you want to know how that and other things turn out, do keep in touch via Twitter @AliBacon or Facebook.
Ali Bacon writes contemporary and historical fiction, mostly with a Scottish flavour.
E-book 4.99, Paperback £7.99https://www.linen-press.com/shop/in-the-blink-of-an-eye/
Or from Amazon UK
Comments