Mother Nature

Autumn is nearly upon us and this morning as I walked to the shop, I can see the leaves beginning to turn russet red as they start to die. England is a magnificent place to witness the seasons. They are so specific and clear cut, as the old dies away with the first sign of a cold wind Mother Nature is resilient, tucking in her skirts to see out Winter, tempting us with the anticipation that Spring always brings.
Today the sun is shining, the air clear and bracing and its a pleasure to be out.
It got me thinking to the whys and wherefores, the plus and the minuses of living in where ever you live.
Where we live is often a matter of chance. Either we were born there or moved there to be nearer someone. Each environment is different and one can weigh the pros and cons till the cows come home but we all have an investment in where we live and a responsibility to look around and appreciate what we have.
As I have mentioned in the past my abiding memory when I moved back here was that the weight of suspense was lifted from my shoulders. Not the suspense of earning a living, that was still with me and made worse by the situation I soon found myself in. No it was the security of not fearing, of not looking over my shoulder of not being aware of the potential danger lurking within the environment.
Each country has its claim to fame.
The sunny weather and the spectacular beaches of Australia.
Ditto South Africa, along with the loverly homes and large gardens  and the open hospitality which is unique to that country.
New Zealand a hidden gem. A sleepy backwater which thrives on the outdoor and excels in its ability to have a no frills lifestyle, not brash like its neighbour but resolutely sure of its self.
The USA seeped in celluloid history. The towns and cities known to us all through the films, contrived in the romance of the storyline, we arrive hyped up only to find, behind the billboards the tumbleweed of yesterday and what we sought, was a fantasy.
Of course each has its up side as well as its down side.
The heat of the day brings lethargy, and at night one suffers not only from being too hot but also the blight of the mosquito.
In some countries it's the flys that make your life miserable, sometimes it's the danger of the spider or the snake, even the shark gets in on the act.
Of course one rides ones chances because the sunshine is such a boost to confidence. The spirits rise as one watches the sun come over the horizon and the light floods into the bedroom. In my experience it was the light which played the most important part in lifting the psyche.
When it's raining and the temperature drops below freezing and the only light comes from a street light I would be the first to admit that a couple of spiders and the need for a plentiful supply of sun-screen is a fair reason to be somewhere else.