November

No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day--
No sky--no earthly view--
No distance looking blue--

No road--no street--
No "t'other side the way"--
No end to any Row--
No indications where the Crescents go--

No top to any steeple--
No recognitions of familiar people--
No courtesies for showing 'em--
No knowing 'em!

No mail--no post--
No news from any foreign coast--
No park--no ring--no afternoon gentility--
No company--no nobility--

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November

1.10 p.m. in Lothian Road and 'dreich' wasn't the word for it. Cold, squally, very wet, rain down the back of the neck. Nearly dark, car lights, umbrellas and hurrying passers by. Duvet day.

But not for me - after a swim and French (home made crepes because it was Eglantine's last day, she's off to Toronto) I slip slided on the soggy streets to Jobcentre Plus for #2 son's form and then, avoiding the flat and its open windows (the painting continues), retreated to The Filmhouse for lunch. Tonight it's the Scottish Diaspora talk at EU.

And tomorrow's blip is sorted! Scotland Around the World.

(P.S. - the poem is not mine, it's by Thomas Hood)