Week 45
Heading into the dark; future man-baby tears; Saffy under a blanket
Hello, what a week eh? The weather here has been a solid grey-white blanket of cloud and, well…that’s not the worst of it is it? I know we have a lot of US readers and I want to reach a hand across the ocean to all those in shock and grief this week, and to say that we feel it too, albeit with the various luxuries that make it less immediately terrifying. I am torn about offering wisdom - is it my business? haven’t wiser people already said all there is to say? But I do find I have a few things to say, so I will say them.
The main thing I have to offer is a moment of clarity I had that the vision that I see being celebrated now on social media is a fantasy. The clip that crystallised this thought for me was a deliberately obnoxious man-baby crowing over some imagined ultimate defeat of women and delightedly using the line ‘your body, my choice’. It was supposed to strike fear and dejection but it made me laugh, because it’s so ludicrous to believe this, and for this belief to bring you such manic joy. While people like this have been emboldened and yes, sadly, facilitated by this week’s news, this fantasy they have is an old and a dying one. His is a weird and sad reaction to insecurity, to lack of love, to some unfulfilled need in himself. It is a harking back to something old and deeply conservative that has genuinely been lost, and that can’t be brought back in any meaningful way because we all simply know better now. These *are* its death throes. The world has moved and continues to move from primitive, backwards thinking towards enlightenment, I truly believe that.
As we know very well here, everything moves in cycles, through light and dark. Sometimes we are heading towards midwinter and we know that there are dark times ahead, and I fear for those who will inevitably get caught up in whatever is about to unfold. In those times we do what we can, and what we need to in order to survive, we keep our fires burning, we tend and conserve our flames. And it can go on, and on, but then… light starts to creep in, and it seems impossible at first, but it does, it *always* does.
And as I was watching the man-baby a thought flashed into my head almost like a premonition: someday this man is going to get some beautiful, poetic comeuppance for this, public or otherwise. It’s just what happens! The wheel always turns. So let’s all hold out for that.
And pray that it’s public.
Now, to the business at hand: this is our weekly community post in which we share something that has felt particularly ‘this week of the year’. I tell you mine and you tell me yours, in the comments, and at the end of the month I make them all into a big beautiful poem, a little like I did last month. Here’s mine:
Saffy under a blanket
Little Saffy doesn’t like fireworks and so it has been another bonfire night all indoors playing her Dog TV and feeding her treats. Our other dog Korina is the opposite, and actually scratches at the door to be let out, and stands on the back porch and watches them. Bizarre.
A tiny bit of housekeeping: this week I published my first article on Scribehound Gardening. Scribehound Gardening is 30 garden writers each writing one article per month, so you get one each morning - sign up for me and you get us all. It kicked off on 1st November and so far they have all been hugely entertaining. I am writing a once-a-month moon gardening grow along, writing about lunar gardening for the month ahead and trying it out. In my first article I wrote about some amazing research I have come across that has convinced me that moon gardening is more than just woo and wishful thinking, and that has pushed me off the fence and into trying it for myself. We are going to delve into garden folklore too. It’s already building into a really fun and lively community and I would love you to join us.
And of course if you are starting your Christmas shopping please do consider a beautiful little almanac for your nearest and dearest. Some links below.
That’s it from me, and quite enough too you might say.
Over to you: what have you done/seen/stayed up all night watching/comfort eaten this week that felt particularly ‘this week of the year’?
Yes it’s been particularly dull and grey but still quite mild here in West Yorkshire. I’ve missed seeing the late autumn sun lighting up the fireworks display of leaves as they quiver in the breeze hanging on for one last show before dancing off down the lane. I have snuggled on the sofa with laptop discovering family history and their dates, sad stories and mysterious ancestors.
I've found this last week, in particular the constant overcast greyness, a bit of a downer to be honest. Taking a couple of woodland walks near me has helped though, watching the last leaves fall from the trees, the birds puffing their feathers up against the cold. As i write this a cheerful little robin has just perched on our front windowsill.