The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 46: Dec/Jan 2019 | Page 45
IS IT ME?
IS IT ME?
John Davies is a senior corporate partner at leading commercial law
firm Thrings. In each edition of TBE John addresses a topical news or
business-related issue. This time he’s moaning about the weather.
Well, it happened didn’t it? There we were, just about getting used to those longer summer days,
the ones sprinkled with sunshine, greenery, long walks, beer gardens, flip flops and taking
impromptu decisions to crack open a bottle of something cold and fire up the BBQ.
Thrings
@ThringsLaw
www.thrings.com
Then what happened? No, not Brexit. Nature.
The Earth only went and moved didn’t it?
Before we knew it, the days were shorter, the
nights were drawing in, and the trees were
starting to resemble my head: bald.
I’m one of those people that actually likes
the coldness of winter. There is something
refreshing and vibrant about those crisp
early mornings, with ice on the windscreen,
glistening spider webs and evidence that you
are actually breathing as you exhale a cloudy
puff. I also like my bobble hat very much.
Winter also delivers Christmas, which in
my world at least, means a lot of love and
laughter with friends and family getting
together. “Lovely stuff,” as Alan Partridge
might say. What I’m not too fussed about,
however, is autumn. Don’t get me wrong,
I love the colour changes that the season
brings, a patchwork of ambers and rusts
and reds. I also love the fact that the rugby
season is back in full swing. But that’s where
it ends for me.
Last weekend I was out walking Paddy,
our pooch, wrapped up in waterproof
clothing (me, not him) as horizontal rain
struck my face and blurred my specs. It was
windy and grey and miserable. Gone were
the firm grassy footpaths which mapped
out my summer meanderings. Instead I
was faced with sloshy, sticky mud-laden
footpaths. It was pants to be honest.
Talking of man’s best friend, if you’re
contemplating getting a dog, think long
and hard before you commit. Don’t get me
wrong, they’re lovely creatures and make
great companions. You imagine they’re
all furry and happy and self-contained.
But don’t be fooled. When you’re trudging
through muck in autumn with the rain
lashing down you’ll wish you’d bought a cat.
I have a fairly fluffy dog (sounds like the
beginning of a Spike Milligan poem), which
is nice. The downside is he soaks up the rain
like a sponge and collects mud on his paws
and legs like a bee gathering pollen. When
we got home, I had to give him a shower
and then put up with the smell of wet dog
for the next few hours. But just as the pong
was lifting and my body temperature was
approaching normality, the wind picked up
again. And I mean really picked up. Within
minutes, my beautiful, imposing, statuesque
willow tree had blown over in my garden.
#gutted
So thanks autumn. Thanks very much. I
know you’ve got a little longer left on your
visa but I can’t wait for winter to come along
and boot you out for another year.
And there you have it. As ever, I’d be
interested to hear your thoughts. Do you
agree with my curmudgeonly views on
autumn or is it just me?
John Davies
e: [email protected]
t: 01793 412634
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
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