Mid-summer blues

It’s been a gloomy summer.

 

A bunch of lavender. When dry, it will be put into sachets in the linen cupboard.
A bunch of lavender. When dry, it will be put into sachets in the linen cupboard.

 

In Greece, forest fires have ravaged the stunningly beautiful island of Euboea.

The refugee hot-spots are overflowing again.

People are in despair because more taxes have been announced for September. Many have not been on holiday, because they cannot afford it.

 

A hot cat cooling of on the kitchen tiles.
A hot cat cooling off on the kitchen tiles.

 

Elsewhere – another day, another atrocity. I dread seeing the news each morning.

To say nothing of the depressing spectacle of the US presidential campaign.

 

A basket of freshly-picked, sun-warmed figs
A basket of freshly-picked, sun-warmed figs

 

So it’s good to have the comfort of small, daily pleasures. Most of which are connected with nature.

 

A swim in turquoise waters.
A swim in turquoise waters.

37 thoughts on “Mid-summer blues”

  4. I’m so glad you chose to dwell on positive things: the smell of lavender, a feline companion, yummy figs, and beautiful beaches. I can’t even stomach politics…sad to say. Praying for some relief in your neck of the woods.

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  7. We have to take our pleasures where we can find them, and nature does offer a rich source. Your lavender is a wonderful rich blue, and I can almost smell it. And those figs! Almost begging to be split, grilled, drizzled with honey and served with thick yoghurt… You’ve given us a visual feast 🙂

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  9. I hear the rustle of leaves on the trees surrounding my house, laugh at the antics and listen to the ‘singing’ of the multitude of exotic birds everywhere around me . . . and then see the beautiful lavender and taste the figs in your post . . . somehow do not have the genes for blues: just ‘eliminate the negative, accentuate the positive’ in my own life . . . there are many things in the world about which we cannot do anything , , , , just accept and pray for the best possible outcome . . .

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  11. This is sad… and I think this summer is being gloomy in everywhere! But I hope and wish to have a better days soon… Your cat is so lovely and adorable, Blessing and Happiness, Thank you, Love, nia

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  12. The world is in turmoil, humans – or at least the ones with power or just plain gun-power – just don’t seem to get it right. But there’s also so much good stuff the press doesn’t dwell on with as much enthusiasm or proper focus. How about the progress scientists are making day after day, in full international cooperation? the individual lives of Olympic athletes, the unbelievable efforts and sacrifices most of them did to just get there – and not just the medals or municipal bad planning? And as you’ve shown, the daily little pleasures of nature that are there for the picking, at least for most of us in the blogosphere. I’ve taken to just skimming the nasty headlines. I do realise I’m supremely lucky, as I’m off for a (simple) non-WiFi two week break. I’ll catch up on you when I come back 🙂

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  15. I’m sorry to hear things are so dismal in Greece. It’s been a rough go for awhile now, with things piling on. I was in despair over the US election, but I’m feeling more confident that voters are finally waking up to the dangers of Trump as commander in chief. Let us hope so. Your kitty is lovely and so is the lavender. It’s such a beautiful island. I hope things can begin to improve.

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  16. I’m sorry to hear people in Greece are still having a miserable time of it. As you mention, though, looking across the world at the miserable spectacle that is the US election campaign is hardly the thing to raise anyone’s spirits.

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  21. Well, you had me, right up until the last photo. I was nodding and empathising and then you went and juxtaposed it with the rain running in floods down the window to my left. So now I’m more depressed. But don’t worry. I’ll be my usual grumpy self again by the morning 😉

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  22. Pingback: A start | Letters from Athens

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