The Summer Calls
The aroma of slowly but surely ripening mangoes from Queensland permeates my house in summer. Just as sure as the cool breezes from the ocean blow in after dinner time in Balgownie, these fruity sensations remind me of a childhood growing up in a tropical airy place, where seasonal fruits make up for the lack of changing climate seasons, and where the variety of such produce can also mean the fruits of long term labours. It takes gestation periods, monsoonal changes and planning ahead to arrive at the grin on the faces of darkened fruit growers, their tan resulting from days walking on their orchards udner the intense equatorial sun.
Summer officially arrives on a Wednesday this year, but the last Saturday of November already gave a good show of what it can be. The sun was up too early, as expected, and I felt too excited for the day in chilling out and now feel so bad texting a mate so early. As I write this, there seems to be a synchronisation of temperatures up in the northern hemisphere - it is precisely minus one degree Celsius in Moscow, London and Toronto. In contrast, the singlets, boardshorts and thin t-shirts of blokes and light fabric dresses of women underscore how fortunate and moderate Australian weather can be. There can be the risk of bush fires flaring up, especially when one is not at home, and there was a strange smoky presence over Parramatta this afternoon - but otherwise it is a season of forgetting about schedules, laundry not drying or just about time itself.
End of year can also mean stocking up on favourite movies for the home or lazy afternnoons on trips away; waiting for cherries to reach just the right taste and maturity; re-affirming personally what it was that we were rushing at work for; pondering how electronic stuff for the lounge and kitchen seem to get cheaper, whilst petrol prices, gold and utilities get more costly; remembering to do the annual things like changing the water filter catridge; catching up with mates and relatives to show how much we appreciate them for their company, communciation and things they do for the rest of the year; and throwing never used items to allow room for the new. It can offer a hiatus, but it can also be a time to look forward to the future. Heck, it also means everyday one can feel the salt in our faces and legs as the ocean winds cocoon us in a magical time.
Back to Parramatta for me and my mate today. There was a market day along Church Street Mall, with the ubiquitious stalls offering almost the same things like in Windsor near the Blue Mountains last week. I could not resist the outlets with plants, and this time there was dear Gary with his bonsai-like creations of succulents and cacti on little lovingly made wooden holders. Okay I got three - a prayer plant, a bears foot and a miniature pine tree. Okay, they are all names anyway - the miniature creations caught my eye. I finally got to taste the curry laksa at Oriental Tucker along George Street - and they seem to have nice curries, snacks and desserts on offer as well. I got into summer mood and mode - do things unplanned, allow the delightful unexpected and after all, it already feels like what summer should be.
Oh yes, the mangoes. They are R2E2 and not even related to the Star Wars trilogy. Such fruits are best eaten slurpy, with their nectar flowing easy and flesh melting in our mouths. They complement the body heat from too much barbecue and keeping up with the sun.
Mangoes also reflect the essential spirit of summer - let it be, relish the juicy growth built up in the past year and enjoy the rewards.
We can let our hair down - and let the drool create a little mess. We can take it easy with the clock, for sunset is late and tommorow is another day. And make sure we create the postive childhood memories for the next generation - and our mates.
Summer officially arrives on a Wednesday this year, but the last Saturday of November already gave a good show of what it can be. The sun was up too early, as expected, and I felt too excited for the day in chilling out and now feel so bad texting a mate so early. As I write this, there seems to be a synchronisation of temperatures up in the northern hemisphere - it is precisely minus one degree Celsius in Moscow, London and Toronto. In contrast, the singlets, boardshorts and thin t-shirts of blokes and light fabric dresses of women underscore how fortunate and moderate Australian weather can be. There can be the risk of bush fires flaring up, especially when one is not at home, and there was a strange smoky presence over Parramatta this afternoon - but otherwise it is a season of forgetting about schedules, laundry not drying or just about time itself.
End of year can also mean stocking up on favourite movies for the home or lazy afternnoons on trips away; waiting for cherries to reach just the right taste and maturity; re-affirming personally what it was that we were rushing at work for; pondering how electronic stuff for the lounge and kitchen seem to get cheaper, whilst petrol prices, gold and utilities get more costly; remembering to do the annual things like changing the water filter catridge; catching up with mates and relatives to show how much we appreciate them for their company, communciation and things they do for the rest of the year; and throwing never used items to allow room for the new. It can offer a hiatus, but it can also be a time to look forward to the future. Heck, it also means everyday one can feel the salt in our faces and legs as the ocean winds cocoon us in a magical time.
Back to Parramatta for me and my mate today. There was a market day along Church Street Mall, with the ubiquitious stalls offering almost the same things like in Windsor near the Blue Mountains last week. I could not resist the outlets with plants, and this time there was dear Gary with his bonsai-like creations of succulents and cacti on little lovingly made wooden holders. Okay I got three - a prayer plant, a bears foot and a miniature pine tree. Okay, they are all names anyway - the miniature creations caught my eye. I finally got to taste the curry laksa at Oriental Tucker along George Street - and they seem to have nice curries, snacks and desserts on offer as well. I got into summer mood and mode - do things unplanned, allow the delightful unexpected and after all, it already feels like what summer should be.
Oh yes, the mangoes. They are R2E2 and not even related to the Star Wars trilogy. Such fruits are best eaten slurpy, with their nectar flowing easy and flesh melting in our mouths. They complement the body heat from too much barbecue and keeping up with the sun.
Mangoes also reflect the essential spirit of summer - let it be, relish the juicy growth built up in the past year and enjoy the rewards.
We can let our hair down - and let the drool create a little mess. We can take it easy with the clock, for sunset is late and tommorow is another day. And make sure we create the postive childhood memories for the next generation - and our mates.
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