Swamped synapses or seasonal serendipity? #1000speak

Posted on Dec 20, 2015 by TanGental
2015-12-19 21.56.10

We sat in front of this strange fire at a party tonight, our backs warmer than our fronts. Everything back to front…

As I look out into my garden I see evidence of what exactly? Life? Renewal? Climate change? It’s nearly the shortest day here in the UK and everything should be shut down. The earth should be frost-solid, the greens limited to the muscular evergreens, not daffodils and fushias. The lawn needs a mow and pond skaters play chicken with the birds who’ve given up on all the hassle of migration and settled in for an unlikely early spring break. And today somewhere in the UK the highest ever temperature in the UK since Pontius was a Pilot has been recorded.

Part of me smiles at all this unlikely activity but I know there has to be a price. Cicadian rhythms demand we renew at night. Nature does the same over winter allowing time off from fecundity and fertility. Without a pause, there will be consquences. Not this year perhaps, or next. But diseases will not be killed off, stocking up strength will not happen.

I went shopping on Tuesday and dropped off a key to be cut. ‘Pop back when you’ve finished,’ the man said. I was only gone an hour. But I only remembered today, Thursday. Senior moment, maybe. But I’m not alone in needing my brain to be defragged to create more memory space. In the run up to Christmas the operative word is ‘run’. Maybe sprint up or bolt up would be more accurate. It’s talked of as a holiday time but pretty much all one hears is rush and stress and more rush.

We cram. It starts so young what with play dates and one o’clock clubs where our little treasures are given sensory overloads and constant unremitting stimulation. We are all at it. Even the garden. Constant activity.

The world of humans is turbulent and we watch as lives tumble and twist seemingly out of control. We wish for peace, in the sense of an absence of conflict. But my wish is for a peace too, but in the sense of an absence of activity. Peace and quiet to everyone this Christmas. It’s what we all need.

This part of Decembers 1000 voice speak for compassion. If you would like to see more posts please click here and follow the link up.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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25 Responses to Swamped synapses or seasonal serendipity? #1000speak

  1. Anabel Marsh says:
    Dec 20, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    Hope you find your peace and quiet. All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. roweeee says:
    Dec 20, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Thanks for this, Geoff. I do get very concerned about the effects of global warming on the planet. It troubles me to when those rhythms change and as much as we’d like to view them as an aberration, they’re adding up and starting to form a disturbing picture.
    I definitely second your desire for peace for uber-activity. It’s been quite manic at our end with the end of the school year bringing all sorts of concerts and with Mister heading off to high school and our daughter leaving to go to an opportunity class at another school, that multiplied the usual madness. Now that all that is over, we have a few days peace before Christmas.
    I’m needing to put a bit of thought into how to manage our daughter’s schedule. She is wanting to get into our local selective high school and has the smarts to get in but will need to work hard for the next year until the following March. In this context, working hard is a whole new kettle of fish. This is the world of hothousing and tutoring kids and from where I sit, really robbing them of their childhoods but if you want to attend the selective school, at least to some extent, you need to play the game. I am hearing about kids doing 2 x 3hour stints of tutoring a week. It doesn’t seem healthy and our Miss is also doing dancing and cubs and I do believe in being a well-rounded person. Her dance teacher talks about the need to be 3D and not just 2 D. All her kids went to the selective high school while maintaining their dance so that’s encouraging.
    I hope you are keeping well and wish you and the family a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year xx Rowena
    PS the lad is off to Jamboree in a few weeks. Will let you know how it goes.

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Dec 20, 2015 at 11:48 pm

      Thanks Ro, hop your chritmas is good. Both our kids went to selective schools which isn’t that unusual in London. That meant a lot of prep work in years 5 and 6 which always felt tricky but they never much minded and the ended up at the best school for them and have thrived ever since as a result. So don’t be too hard on yourself if a bit of arm twisting is needed.

      Liked by 1 person

      • roweeee says:
        Dec 21, 2015 at 1:48 am

        Thanks very much for that, Geoff. I always find it useful to get advice from those who are further down the track. I do think the selective school system would be the right path for her, especially as she’s keen and made that choice. I remember what you said about twisting the arm because I KNOW that will be required!!

        Liked by 1 person

      • TanGental says:
        Dec 21, 2015 at 10:41 pm

        Best of luck!

        Like

  3. noelleg44 says:
    Dec 20, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    A lovely post, Geoff. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone would put down their weapons, grievances, anger, etc for just a while and enjoy the peace of the season.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Autism Mom says:
    Dec 20, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    A little of both, I think. Enjoy your slow down and the peace that comes with it.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Charli Mills says:
    Dec 20, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    Strange how even a few degrees shift in temperature can have such an impact. Last year, we learned that even if we get “normal” precipitation, if it does not create the usual snowpack, a drought ensues, followed by wildland fires. Not a cycle I look forward to repeating, yet I can’t help but notice how much warmer it is again this winter. Flooding in December is unseasonable.

    Yes, we all need that down time. We no longer rush about, but often it makes me feel like I’m missing out on something. Longboarder is here and we went to the library yesterday and I checked out a big book to sit by the fire and read. The best gift we can give each other, and ourselves, is that of time. May you be blessed with time, peace and some cold weather.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. jan says:
    Dec 21, 2015 at 2:18 am

    Such a beautiful picture! Warmest holiday wishes to you and yours! I feel blessed to have gotten to know you this year!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Annecdotist says:
    Dec 23, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Geoff, I love how you’ve linked the overactivity of nature with our own busyness at this time of the year (not mine, but normal people’s). Sometimes there is a fear of what will happen when we let ourselves be.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. carolschepper says:
    Dec 24, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    This weather has made it so difficult to accept that it really is December…
    Have a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year

    Liked by 1 person

  10. herheadache says:
    Dec 26, 2015 at 1:54 am

    Merry Christmas and here’s to a peaceful year ahead for as much of the world as possible.
    And here’s to more 1000 Speak to come in 2016.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: A bit of thinking from the Le Pard playbook | TanGental

  12. Allie P. says:
    Dec 21, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    Yep – far too much rushing where you are going and not enough enjoying where you are. I hope you are able to get some rest and relaxation in over the next few days.

    Liked by 1 person

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