While it hasn’t been especially cold (our plum blossom is out), it has been very, very wet. We have escaped the worst – there are many places around the country astonishingly worse off – but it has been quite a concern. You drive past any steep hill wondering all the time whether a tree is going to come skiing down it, or a few boulders on a spree. Or even a house.
In eleven days time we have a change of month and we will have the radio solemnly intoning that the first day of September is also the first day of spring – and why hasn’t the weather changed? Spring is the least attractive season here in Wellington, especially if the vernal gales get their eyes in. But come December 1, it’s summer (and why hasn’t the weather changed?)
But a good winter storm keeps you indoors and able to catch up with things, which can be a blessing. Indeed, I had been planning a note on abbreviations, but time is short – maybe in a month. Next time sees an acknowledgement of an anniversary, and there’s another one of those looming a few weeks. So I thought I’d trot out an anniversary puzzle this time round: no. 10,000 from The Independent.
As for forthcoming puzzles, there’s a Times Quick Cryptic on Tuesday 22nd August, but I have nothing on the calendar for September yet, other than the regular Friday Independent slot. There are, however, what I suppose I should call ‘irregular’ puzzles on the horizon for October and November.
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