Category Archives: Viewpoint

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Autumn – flaming leaves and the cries of geese

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I took this photograph with the sound of thunder rumbling over my shoulder, and bonfire smoke whisping through the trees in the distance. Minutes later the rain came, and has now drifted on.

It is this changeable time of year – October, when the trees in the last of their leaves, are so vivid, and the skies filled with the sounds of restless birds.

I think everything must be a little confused this year for it is still warm, far warmer than usual. I can’t remember when we last reached October in our t-shirts without the heating on, and no need of it. I do realise that just saying that marks us out as pathetic, for in the UK there are those who don’t turn their heating on all year. Some for financial reasons. Some to support Ukraine. Some to save the planet. I’ll let you know how far we get.

Meanwhile, autumn parades in front of us. It is beautiful – like a vanishing gift we can’t hold on to. And it happens at a time of each tree’s choosing. When the branches decide they are ready they begin to change out of their greens, until suddenly, there the whole stands, free to view, flourishing its colour as we hurry beneath, braced for the grey of winter.

It’s best to look up.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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Meeting up with school friends

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It’s a long time since we’ve seen each other. School is where we met, and plenty has happened in between. We’ve also come a long way.

Now some of us live in London, some in Paris, others in Madrid, some in Sydney, and some in Auckland. It’s been a summer of catching up, with another couple still to join us from Toronto. It has been such a pleasure discovering that whatever the distance and years apart the old classmates can still be found. So much has changed, and yet so little has changed. We are older, but our foundations the same, although possibly an accent has been tweaked here or there.

Now we are about to scatter again, but we’ve remembered, and it’s been fun.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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Is this the loneliest tree in London?

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Lately I’ve been fretting about this tree, the only street tree on this block. I can’t decide whether it’s the buildings that make the tree look miserable, or the tree that makes the buildings look miserable.

I’m also wondering if, in fifty years or so – perhaps sooner if we’re lucky – we might have a better understanding of trees. Maybe we’ll be treating them with more respect. Perhaps we’ll adapt our cities to suit the trees, rather than expect the trees to adapt to the cities. Maybe we’ll even begin to clear large spaces for proper groupings of trees, rather than lifting slabs of concrete here and there.

Meanwhile I’d love to find out if this tree minds being isolated like this, surrounded by buildings rather than forest, and wafted by exhaust fumes rather than fresh air. Perhaps it’s happy, but what happens to its roots beneath the pavement? Where do they go? How and where do they find their water? Is there anything we can do to make it bigger, to help it help us to hold off extreme heat?

It would be so much easier if it could talk.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023