Well that's that little bit done , so have you all enrolled for those winter classes to keep the grey matter ticking over ?
You see, I think the seasons are accelerating out of all proportion – it’ll be winter soon. You’re thinking he’s mad, eh? Okay, I might be being a tad dramatic but a few weeks back, on returning from Germany, I noticed that the leaves on the trees were already turning a brownish hue; and this week, I can honestly categorically report, the kerbside in our street is full of fallen leaves; and this phenomenon is being repeated throughout the East Midlands.
Apparently, it’s happening in other parts of the UK too. We've passed the equinox; we’ve entered October and we’re hurtling towards the truly awful ‘clocks-go-back-tonight’ event. For us trainee depressives the call of SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) is loud and clear. Already I can feel the clogging melancholy that is pre-season SAD starting to kick in. In my book, falling leaves happen after WHS Smith have advertised “it’s back to school soon, kids...” not before.
So, I thought, why do leaves fall anyway? Here’s the science: “In early autumn, in response to the shortening days and declining intensity of sunlight, leaves begin the processes leading up to their fall. The veins that carry fluids into and out of the leaf gradually close off as a layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf. These clogged veins trap sugars in the leaf and promote production of anthocyanins. Once this separation layer is complete and the connecting tissues are sealed off, the leaf is ready to fall.”
Did you catch the bit about “shortening days” and “declining sunlight” and worse of all “early autumn”? In panic I telephoned my ‘arborealy’ clued-up chum Russ to see what he thought. He blathered on about this sort of thing happening if the trees suffered “wind burn” or lack of water or too much water or extreme temperatures etc, etc, etc.Honestly, it’s enough to promote the production of anthocyanins in sad, SAD hacks.
Russ was able to offer some help though. He said, “Look, if the falling leaves are promoting a bit of Seasonal Affected Disorder - why not beat the blues literally?” Huh? He explained, “Releasing your inner Ringo and engaging in a spot of drumming has been proven to help.” Russ said that researchers, “found that people often expressed their inner pressure and feelings by drumming or with the tones produced with a mallet instrument... people described their experience as cathartic.” Apparently, after three months of this percussive music therapy patients had “significantly fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety”. Hmmm… I like the idea of a mallet... Cheers, Russ.
All this talk of drumming has explained a certain mystery to me.
Toodle pip Magic, banging on and kicking leaves and waiting for a few more to make the meet.
Message Thread
« Back to index