Back To Front #peace #quiet

Posted on Dec 22, 2020 by TanGental

As I look out into my garden I see a lot of green, a lot of growth. Buds poking through the loam, next year’s plants making an early bid for freedom. What is that? Norman renewal, evidence (again) of climate change? Today, it’s the shortest day here in the UK and everything should be shut down, darkest before dawn and all that. The earth should be frost-solid, the greens limited to the muscular evergreens, not sprigs of daffodils and blooming fushias, goodness not even snowdrops poking through.

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. We’ll probably hear that the temperature is going to be the highest or something.

Sigh.

Part of me smiles at all this unlikely activity, I love seeing my garden grow, but I know there has to be a price. Circadian 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 consequences. Not this year perhaps, or next. But diseases will not be killed off, stocking up strength will not happen.

I put my glasses in the fridge a couple of days ago. I could try and explain the tortured logic that led to that episode but I doubt you’ve the time. Maybe it’s just a senior moment, or maybe it’s another example of my over heated brain. There’s a lot of stuff flying around with new variant covid, Christmas plans thrown in the air, waiting to see how the pieces land, the inevitable disaster that will be Brexit and that’s before all the family stuff, the aged in-law stuff, the… oh you know, you all have similar. I need time to defrag my brain and create space for more thoughts and memories, much like my overfull laptop. In the run up to Christmas (the operative word being ‘run’, though maybe ‘sprint’ up or ‘bolt’ up would be more accurate) there’s no time for anything like some considered thought.

This is called the holiday season, but even without shops and entertainment, all one hears about is rush and worry and stress and more rush. Some holiday.

We cram. It starts with our children, what with endless play dates and one o’clock clubs and TV and apps and whathaveyous where our little treasures are given sensory overloads and constant unremitting stimulation. And it doesn’t stop. It never stops. We are all at it. Even the bloody garden. Constant activity.

What the world needs is a bit of peace. Yes world peace in the sense of an absence of conflict would be grand, but something more humdrum in the sense of an absence of activity, noise and clamour would also be good.

Resolve for growth and renewal on the first of January if you must, but at the end of this most extraordinary of years, all I wish for you and me is maybe a bit of boredom, some quiet, and, yes some peace.

As ever Dog’s got it sussed.

Whatever you think of as a good Christmas, I hope you manage it this year.

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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39 Responses to Back To Front #peace #quiet

  1. Ritu says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 1:11 pm

    Peace be with you His Geoffleship 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    Beautiful and blessed Christmas to you, sir! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Darlene says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    I want to come back as a dog. All this craziness doesn’t seem to affect them. Have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Chronicles of a Blogaholic says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    Geoff, have a healthy happy holiday and a boring New Year.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Erika says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    I think this is the first year when I have not discovered yet the first spring flowers sprouting due to the warm temps. But maybe, I only have not looked close enough… lol

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Mary Smith says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    I wish you and yours a peaceful Christmas. Dog clearly knows what that means!

    Liked by 2 people

  8. trifflepudling says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    There was a Thanksgiving episode of Friends where they all ended up just having grilled cheese sandwiches and they were just as happy!
    Pax vobiscum

    Liked by 1 person

  9. JT Twissel says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 8:22 pm

    Boy – do I know what you mean. You want to enjoy the nice weather but then there’s that price to pay. Luckily our Christmas present looks like rain. I am worried about all my buddies in Great Britain – sending hopes for a peaceful holiday for all of you. Over here we’re just hanging on until we can get the nincompoop out of the WH and hopefully – off into space with his space force.

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Dec 23, 2020 at 8:51 am

      Yes we are all wondering about this new variant and the implications. Still i expect we will raise a glass and hope to pop a few other numpties into that space shot with your special one

      Like

  10. John W. Howell says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    I hope what you call a Happy Christmas is how you will describe the holiday. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Jennifer Barricklow says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    I’ve been trying to take cues from my dog about stretching and napping. I’m not a particularly good student in either discipline, but she is a marvelously patient teacher. (Maybe I should borrow the picture of Dog and make it my laptop wallpaper as a reminder…) Have a joyous Christmas and a peaceful and healthy new year!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. willowdot21 says:
    Dec 22, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    I hope all issues sort themselves out and you have a good one 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Dec 23, 2020 at 8:44 am

      I expect so. Hope yours is jolly as can be.

      Like

      • willowdot21 says:
        Dec 23, 2020 at 3:20 pm

        We will be on our own , but thank goodness for group chats. Eldest Lad too far away and in a lower teir than us is worrying about us. Middle lad has covid so he can see anyone, apart from video. We are keeping an eye, what’s app and phone, on him. Youngest son and family like us in tier 4 but in different county so we get updates on the grandchildren excitement! We will all survive. God bless you guys 💜💜💜

        Liked by 1 person

  13. derrickjknight says:
    Dec 23, 2020 at 10:40 am

    And peace to you and yours. Do you count as aged in-laws, or is that just us?

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Widdershins says:
    Dec 24, 2020 at 2:42 am

    Back at’cha, Sir 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Jennie says:
    Dec 26, 2020 at 1:56 am

    Lovely thoughts, Geoff. This was a pleasure to read. Best to you!

    Liked by 1 person

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