Thursday, August 8, 2013

Winterior

I was going to be going to Geelong today, to the 'Impressions of Geelong' exhibition. Until I woke up, that is, to bitter winds, recurrent rain and chill.
We've had our mildest July on record, I believe, so I've been getting out there defrosting in the sunlight. And wacko! I've got alot more done in the winter garden than usual ( bent down on frozen knees, cowering in gales, teeth gritted, etc, etc ). Above are some of the remains of a massive Hakea that dropped silently to the ground one night recently in the front garden.
So it's a domestic day instead. That's been good, because I've been able to clear out my fridge and make a thick slurry of a winter soup. I'd been thinking it was good to be getting out every day, but no way is this little winter bunnykins and his preferred canine accomplice going to do other than hibernate.
The African stool and the Chinese bowl were given to me by my brother. The Dusty Miller flowers came from the garden a year or two back and still prove useful.
You're getting bits out of my kitchen now. When there's no garden to go out into, there's always the garden within.
It may not always be known in the northern hemisphere that alot of what blooms and grows in the southern hemisphere can do so in the colder months. We are upside-down, of course.
Here's that Dusty Miller again, in my kitchen. Melbourne's winter can be bleak, for sure, but it's not the wipe-out it is up in the northern half of the world.
What is a blizzard? That's a big, overwhelming thing that happens in books. Soup cooked, my windows open to keep the air fresh with gusts of cold air, there's a sort of relief to be away from the absurdly hot days we'll get later on, when the heat hits like a thousand fists, Mr Bond...
The sky outside is white, bleached of fire. Trees swagger in the wind. Nothing could induce me or the Young Miss Zara McWoof to go out there -
- much better it is to be screened, sequestered, holed up, observing outer reality rather than participating in it...
...for there's a silver lining in every gale, on every storm-front, pitted as we are against hyper-reality. If you'll toss me a piece of toast, Zara, I'll go and get your slippers...

12 comments:

  1. Very nice post, Mr F. Brrr - gave me a shiver as it is hard to imagine cold and gales. Still sweltering here, with watering and the never-ending mowing. I fancy a piece of toast though. Chuck one over and I'll get you both your slippers. D

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  2. Good to hear, Dave, England sunny. It must be such a chore, the winter months. Here, I sort of prefer the cold, but like you, we've had a blessed season - lots of sunny days ( 14+ degrees = 57F - today's been 18 = 64F, and lots of good, soaking rain ). This evening the blackbirds are singing, presaging spring. Isn't it a wonderful sound?
    Today I found a book you may like: British Plant Life by W B Turrill, part of The New Naturalist series, 1948 edition. Would you like me to send it to you - instead of the toast?

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  3. Our Sydney winter is also being extremely kind, though in the midst of all the 20-24C days we did have a bitterly cold day that drove me indoor to the warmth of the duvet. Accompanied, of course, by little dog, Peggy, who really knows how to make a warm nest for herself. I was pleased to see that you pop little feathers into drawers, as do I. Always a delightful surprise to come across them. I'm doing a bit of gardening and the warm sunshine and balmy breeze are quite inspirational.

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    1. Hi Carol. I love a bit of winter - I couldn't possibly live in Sydney ( jealous as I am of your warmth ) or yikes! Brisbane. It's hard-going - making yourself get out of bed, forcing yourself to walk down the street - but the change is healthy. Or crippling, depending how you look at it!
      Yes, feathers, and any old bit of whatever I find, ends up somewhere on the premises.
      Good luck to you in your easier days!

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  4. dear faisal, I love your writing in this post. It's fab poetry. Particularly the end bit: from 'what is a blizzard? ... to the end. I am reading it over and over ... and over. Language, rhythm, humour - one of the things I value about you is that you are never banal.

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    1. Dear Mrs Catmint,
      Dunno, I reckon I'm as banal as they come! I guess the truth is, we get so blind, complaining about the weather we little realise how slight it really is, in the scheme of things, and in the scheme of what our forbears bore.
      But thankyou for being so kind.

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  5. we've had the most wonderful and warm July in a long time up here in the north.
    now we are heading to autumn. the air is already smelling of it.

    your kitchen paraphernalia are interesting : )

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    1. Hi Demie! That's great to hear. I know you've had some severe winters recently. I'm longing for the warmth, longing to be outside all day.
      X.

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  6. Very poetic post, we have been having cyclonic winds this way west of Sydney and a bit on the chilly side, can't wait for spring and warmer weather.

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    1. Thank you Karen. For me, strong winds ruin being in the garden, dammit! I hope the warmth and stillness come quickly!

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  7. Replies
    1. Well I'd rather be taking photos OUTSIDE Billy, but when squeezed, I'll try to make a picture out of anything. Cheers mate!

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