THE END OF SUMMER

At least three combine harvesters were out in the fields around our house with their lights on last night; and again this morning from just after breakfast. They are taking advantage of some late summer dry weather in order - belatedly - to get the last of the harvest in. Although Danish farmers tend to harvest later than their more southerly peers, it is usually all over by the end of July, or perhaps the first week of August. But here we are in the first week of September, and it is still not all done.

The main reason is the fact that the summer has been the second wettest since 1874, the amount of rain being only 2mm less than the record average of 323mm measured in 1980. Moreover, Fünen (where I live) is the part of the country that has had the most, some 372mm. The fields have been so waterlogged, that it has been impossible to get heavy machinery into them.

I had a good view of all the activity going on around me, since I was up a ladder for most of the morning, cleaning out the guttering. I have to get rid all of the detritus, before the autumn winds fill the gutters up again with the leaves, seeds and twigs from the big beech tree behind the house. The work went quickly this time, since my daughter sat at the bottom of the ladder, holding it steady (I have a fear of heights), while reading a book. A good division of labour all round.   

Walter Blotscher