I’ve been enjoying reading Roland and Betty Clark’s biography, he was well known as the columnist Nor Wester for a generation of readers. l still remember some of the insightful observations I read 30 years ago, and I got to thinking of longevity, and of what I should write about myself.
I’d never compare my own observations, with anybody else’s, but I have a small problem. And that is this, while I’d love to write a column about what’s happening about me, and our very rural property, going into spring, my mind is consumed by what’s happening all around the world, events that put what’s happening in our small circle of life into insignificance.
One of my spring highlights is seeing the poplars burst forth, the new leaves develop, on some of the hundreds we’ve planted over the last 30 years.
Even though autumn shades get the rave reviews, they always seem to me as the colours of dying, of a season that’s gone, while the spring shoots show the prospect of new growth, warmer weather around the corner, of a brighter future, after the usual long winter.
Similarly, our 30 odd magnolias are doing their best to show why we love them so much, with an array of variety of colour that will keep us amused for a month. And that’s all before their leaves form and they flower again with the joy of spring.
I’ve just about given up watching the bloody news, something of an evening tradition for most of our lives, because of all the rotten stuff that’s happening everywhere.
Never mind that we appear to hate every political person, most of whom are trying their best.
We seem to elect them and to straight away start polling against them, rather than give them a fair go.
We are shown the devastation that is the civil war in the Sudan. The Israelis seem to be hell bent on blowing the Palestinian nationals to bits in another war I don’t understand.
The mad Russians are doing their level best to take over Ukraine, looking like a big bully after his neighbours riches, all the while blaming the other innocent party for its instigation.
And on and on…
Which all makes what’s happening to me down on the farm, all seem quite minor in the great scheme of things.
But I’m very lucky. As this is where I want to be, and spring holds a promise of good things to look forward to at a time when so many of those poor buggers all around the world seem to have nothing ahead of them at all.
Ah well, back to filling potholes in the drive, now the latest spring shower has passed.
