The start of September heralds the arrival of Autumn, the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ as John Keats famously described it.
It is also the beginning of another school year after the long summer holidays. Doubtless many parents - myself included - have been nearly bankrupted by the cost of new uniform, PE kit and school shoes. Still, I would rather have a uniform that I have to shell out for once a year than have the daily grind of a teenager deciding what to wear!
I imagine the harvests have been safely gathered in by now, and this is the time of year we traditionally have harvest festivals. One of my favourite memories of primary school is gathering at the village church, singing ‘We plough the fi elds and scatter’ amongst other seasonal hymns, and then heading off with our shoeboxes full of food to be delivered to the older residents.
Those were the days when donations of tins were quite acceptable - I know that there’s a trend for only having fresh produce now. However, it might be worth noting that not every recipient of the harvest festival box wants or needs or even eats a large cabbage, several carrots, a pound of potatoes, courgettes, artichokes, etc.
Some people would actually prefer tins of good quality soup, baked beans, tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables to put in their store cupboards. Plus, tins keep and can also be donated to food banks whereas fresh food goes off quickly. Just a thought for any teachers or PTAs reading.
I wonder if that’s when you know you’ve reached your twilight years, when the local primary school knocks on your door and hands you a shoebox of goodies? I await that knock on the door then with a mixture of pleasure - that I’ve been remembered, and somebody’s taken the time to donate food and deliver it to my door - and dread, that I’m now considered to be in my senior years!
You can read more from me on my blog or in my weekly Northants Telegraph column. Many thanks. Hx
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