A Season of Changes

Congratulations and well-done to the Democratic Senator Barack Hussein Obama who has been elected to be the first African-American and the 44th President of the United States of America.

I'd watched Obama's victory speech several times. It was refreshing to see a victor who does not crow over his enemies, who is gracious towards the losers and to those who did not vote for him. And who uses the opportunity to reconcile and to unite.

"In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long." he said, "..And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress."

He reaches out to:

"... those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

But this is my favourite:

"This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: yes, we can."

It does seem like a change has come over the world. And if a place like the USA can change so much as to put someone like Obama, it gives hope to the rest of us too. And the first thing he could do to win the hearts and minds of the world is to close down Guantanamo Bay and release all the detainees who were unlawfully captured. Will he? Will wait and see.

This morning, when I opened the door to go to work, the air was filled with the acrid smell of  smoke and sulphur.  Leftovers from Guy Fawkes I bet. It must have been a washout for most people attending the firework displays as it rained bucket loads all evening.

There was also not much clanging and banging from the fireworks around our casa cos last year it went off past midnight. By 9pm, it had gone quiet. But I expect that at the sign of the first clear night all will be shot off in earnest. Perhaps, this weekend, everything will go off with a big bang.

Welcome to the gold rush around the campus. I love these awesome autumn shades and riot of colours. A leaf peeping paradise.

Autumn is the time to recognise the balance of the year has changed, the wheel has turned and summer is now over. People turn inward, both physically and mentally.

We give ourselves time to stop and breathe deeply, to feel the satisfaction of what has been achieved, to start to relax.

~Emma Restall Orr, Joint Chief of the British Druid Order

This is a my favourite oak tree at the junction of Gibbert Hill Road and Library Road which will be pollarded this weekend. 

This is done to ensure the safety of the road users and pedestrians. I hope they don't hack it down too much cos it does provide a rich habitat for all manner of wild species.