Fall Weather and Memories of Autumn Past

It was so chilly this morning, I wasn't sure if it was Winter! I've been waiting for the cooler weather but not in the 30s! It was very nippy at 5.30am when I let my dogs out into the yard, for their morning potty run. Now though, the sun is out, and we are in the 60s and supposed to hit 70 later this afternoon.

I've always loved Autumn, I've enjoyed seeing the colour changes on the trees, and saying goodbye to the hot and humid days of Summer. 

Growing up, it meant conker fights at school, chestnuts roasting in braziers in the London markets as you walked through, the fun of November 5th and Bonfire Night (Guy Fawke's Night).

In my Junior School days, it meant the school Harvest Festival, and the beginning of preparing for the Christmas Nativity play.

Our Harvest Festival, the teachers would set up 3 or 4 long tables and decorate them with Autumn Decor, and for a few days everyone would bring in foodstuffs that would later be shared among the elderly in our community. There was always a huge loaf in the centre, shaped like a wheatsheaf, and then fresh fruits and vegetables would be added to the display, and canned foods. At the end of the 2 or 3 days of collecting, the items would be sorted by staff and some chosen "helpers" from the 4th year, divided into boxes or bags, and taken around to "old people" in the streets surrounding the school.

We all loved our harvest festival assembly service were we'd sing hymns like "We Plough The Fields and Scatter" with great gusto.

For the whole of the Autumn Term, we'd be preparing for the Nativity Play for Christmas. The whole school took part and it's amazing how they pulled it all together.

The choir provided many of the carols throughout the play, although some included audience participation as well, so much time was spent in practices.  After the cast for the play was chosen, there were then lines to be learned, and rehearsal after rehearsal, of different parts. Then, the week before the actual presentation, there were full rehearsals of the whole thing, from start to finish, narrator, choir, and play itself.

George Tomlinson was an amazing school, and included everyone who wanted to take part. In those days we were less politically correct and less "offended" by divisions of race or religion. My friend, Stephanie, despite being Jewish, was in the choir, and 2 Muslim boys in my class were in the play, and all of their parents were in the audience to see them perform. This was 1965 though, so - in my neck of the woods - we kids all just got along, and the differences were more of an "oh wow, so what do you believe in then?" when talking about religion, or in learning the cultures of our friends.

Later, when I was at Leyton County High School For Girls, I was one of the 2 Social Services Representatives for my class, and we actually helped organize the Harvest Festival and food distribution there, along with organizing visitations to local elderly and shut-ins throughout the year.