The clocks turned back an hour last Sunday. For me, this seemed like an official goodbye to summer in the
UK. There have been other indications of summer leaving:
Like the frequent rainshowers (hello, umbrella and waterproof jackets)
Like the gazillions of leaves that you “crunch” on while walking. (hello, vacuum cleaner on my room’s carpeting)
Like the drop in temperature (hello, heater, jumpers, socks, socks and more socks)
Like the sun retiring early (hello, lamps)
Like the number of hot coffee and tea I have sipped from a warm mug (hello, caffeine!)
Saying goodbye to the summer months also meant one very sad thing for me—that is having to say goodbye to my flipflops pretty soon. I have been able to still wander around the corridors (and a few short trips outdoors) with it but my love for flipflops is not to the point of frostbite, so it will have to stay indoors or maybe parked in my room for sometime.
Not that everything’s all that bad now that summer is over—rest assured, th
e novelty of being in England has not exactly worn off. Autumn brings its own charms and most them are seen in the molten colors around me as I take walks. Thankfully the sun still comes out
most days. I also get to look “posh” ankle-length boots (bought from good ol’ ukay ukay) and nice jackets and scarves (courtesy of good friends).
Another hello that autumn brings is the warmth of new friendships. Having settled into the community life in college and finding your niche in it helps warm one up—it could be a hug, a cup of warm tea especially made by a friend, a special dish of extra hot Indian curry, a sweet, encouraging anonymous note slipped under your door, an exchange of private jokes and hand-signal greetings (too complicated to explain!), saturday DVD nights all huddled together in the warm TV room.
As a new friend would tease me when she clasps my perpetually cold hands, “Cold hands, warm heart.”
It’s nice to know that for every goodbye, there are hellos—and that for every draft of cold air, there is warm company to ward it off.
The clocks turned back an hour last Sunday. For me, this seemed like an official goodbye to summer in the 
e novelty of being in England has not exactly worn off. Autumn brings its own charms and most them are seen in the molten colors around me as I take walks. Thankfully the sun still comes out
16 comments:
nice. on the bottom half of the world, we're experiencing the exact opposite.
And the next thing you know, it's winter already. Woohoo! white Christmas! :-D
autumn, autumn...here in DC, we're moving our clocks an hour back this coming weekend. i'm looking forward to getting an extra hour of sleep. for me, autumn signals the holidays and less work. by the way, what courses are you taking there?
the weather's just fine. the colors are beautiful. autumn is lovely indeed.
i'm having a taste of autumn in new york for 5 days.:)
enjoy the experience, wala yan sa Pinas! :D
it hasn't been autumn-like much here in california even though it's already november. weather is still warm although the sun sets earlier now... its getting chilier, but i still wear my sandals even though its cold. frostbite isn't really an issue in california unless one lives in the sierras or the mountains. :D
I am glad to know that there are friends clasping your cold hands and making your heart so much the warmer this autumn and coming winter. I love the golden colors of fall, though I have never really experienced it except vicariously. (We left Canada in September, though, when the maple elaves were just about to golden.(
Intsik, "we could never see the ocean until we lose sight of the shore" I love that quote! Is this your original? Can I use it? Coz I really agree--goodbyes can be "healthy" even when they're sad...
Swipe, yeah--I saw that violet tree on your post--cool!
Snglguy, I am told that it rarely snows here, so...
Kayni, I dont think I ever get extra hours of sleep--but then again, takaw tulog kasi ako..hehe. Doin a course on Globalization and Post Colonial Issues..
Mitsuru, New York! It's always been my dream to go to NYC--enjoy it for me! ;)
Freeze, yeah, surely will, thanks!!
Wil, I think that sounds like very ideal weather--not too hot but not too cold--and you can still wear your flipflops, now that's the best part of all. :)
Annamanila, oh you just caught the start of autumn! Sayang...but who knows, with all the traveling people do these days, you might just get there again--and blog about it! :)
i like the pics! wonderful colors...
Am fearing the weather already when i arrive in dec...
You have to explain to me the hand-signals :-)
happy jacket and boots wearing days!
i love saying hello to empty country roads. i hate saying goodbye to them and facing manila again. it kinda snatches away the reverie. but all good things must come to an end.
i love the colors of autumn in your shot. winner.
This reminds me kinda of the song "The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye"---yet I am now inclined to see the positive in the changes in and around us, where as you said, for every end, there is a beginning.
And autumn, the good autumn---reminds me of my fave songs "The Autumn Leaves" and "Autumn In New York"...
Jen, oh! the hand signals! Now, that is also quite tricky...heheh.
Atticus, thanks for dropping by! Yeah, I love traveling on country roads myself and use that time to think. :)
Major Tom, or should I call you Prof Tom?! Hehe..Mahilig ka pala sa golden oldies. ;)
mare!!!! I would love to see you wearing a knee-high boots, skirt and turtle-neck top hehehe ganda-ganda mo sigurado!
Hi Gypsy, ang sosyal mo siguro tignan with the boots, just like what Verns said. Am sure you'll enjoy the white Christmas soon...
"It’s nice to know that for every goodbye, there are hellos—and that for every draft of cold air, there is warm company to ward it off."
So true! Reading this post made me feel truly warm inside. Thanks Gypsy. :)
We are also doing our own version of crunches (on fallen leaves) here. Ang sarap ng tunog no? Autumn is my most favorite season of all!
I felt I just had a cup of hot choco after reaeding this =) lovely read, Gypsy
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