falling

coming, as i do, from scorchy land, i tend to get overly enthusiastic about the changing seasons. in south east queensland, where i lived most of my life, the seasons kind of just ooze their way from hot, sticky summer to less hot, dry winter. so i've particulary enjoyed the last month or so, watching the leaves change, choosing the delude myself that the lovely crisp mornings are not an indication of how cold it's yet to get.

in japan you have to travel to enjoy the seasons. we lived almost in the heart of osaka, which means smack bang in the middle of a concrete, wire infested jungle. so you could only notice the changing of the seasons from way over there. here, though, we have trees and forests and meadows all around, so i get to be all doe-eyed when i look out the window at the changing scenery. and it might sound hopelessly pastoral, but you can feel the change around you, feel that last urgent push of nature, the last harah before it sleeps it off over the winter.

i kind of feel like this weekend might be the peak of the season, so to speak. it was bonfire night last night. as jeff and i drove into town to visit a mate, we saw fireworks going off all over the place. tonight we're off to a big bonfire with friends. for those of you in the know, don't worry, jeff has been banned from handling the fireworks.

anyway, i am enjoying falling for fall. i have to say though, so far the highlight would have to have been the fire-twirling morris dancers.

(i tried to upload a video, but seem to be incapable of getting it to work. just imagine three guys, twirling around, shouting hey, and spinning fire to ring of fire, by jonny cash, played on the accordion!)