Just a touch of colour

I love September. September and October are my favourite months of the year - I think I’m an early Autumn kind of a person - maybe one responds to one’s birthday time of year. 

September is perfect. There is still quite a bit of sunshine, but it is balmy, and often golden, not harsh like midsummer or temperamental like Spring. The light is kinder and warmer. There is so much fruit and other produce around - ‘mellow fruitfulness’. I like ‘mellow’ - mature, genial, calm, relaxed. The world seems quieter with the end of the hectic holiday time. When you have spent most of your life in education, then September is a time for exciting new beginnings, a clean page in a new exercise book, a fresh start. I always had an academic year diary - so much more sensible to start the year in September than in January. Then, when no longer tied to term times, we have the privilege of being able to enjoy September in different places - the very best time for travel and holidays. I love being able to venture out when everyone else has gone home. Crossing the Channel to France when everyone has just gone the other way has always been a joy of retirement. 

There are other sides to Autumn of course. Besides the onset of Winter, which I don’t mind, it can be a time of parting - which is of course the link to my very favourite of all tracks, of all songs, of all time - Chris Rea’s September Blue. Listen to that guitar and that voice - perfect. This is a nice version. Relax into it.