As an environmental/ sustainability consultant the state of the planet is never far from my mind. And, of course, global warming and climate change loom large in my mind. Always there, always a concern that rattles and unnerves.
I grew up in this large, mad city of Johannesburg and always remember winter as being a time of cold mornings and nights but day times full of blue sky, sunshine and even warm weather. And it was dry, dry, dry. Chapped, cracked lips and sandpaper for skin were the norm. But it was a small price to pay for what was essentially a lovely winter.
For me, it made up for the season I've always hated in this city - summer. Much as some rhapsody about how much they love Johannesburg summers with their huge thunderstorms and lashing rain, I, for one, bloody hate them. And I still do. All that lightning, thunder and crazy maelstrom delights some, but I hate how it breaks up a hot day and just makes summer feel wet and mad. And one could never really plan a full day out in the garden or at the pool during these tempestuous Joburg summers. Hated that.
Which is why when we arrived in Portugal after emigrating there slap bang in the middle of summer at the age of 17, with its endless summer days of blue sky, hot weather and days spent on the beach well into the evening, it was like Nirvana for me. Pure bliss. Ever since, Mediterranean-type summers have been my preference.
So, when I returned to live and work in Johannesburg after 14 years away from the city, I knew I had summer to dread and winter to enjoy. Or so I thought. One winter after another had endless days of grey, miserable weather and...endless rain, even drizzle...what the hell was that?! Last year's winter was no different. Most of the time I felt I was back in Cape Town or even England for winter - NOT what one needs when having to brave this sprawling, crime-ridden, demented city...
And don't even get me started on the string of lousy, totally unpredictable summers we've endured in recent years.
And, of course, always niggling at me was the fact that these changes in the Highveld winter had almost certainly something to do with climate change. It fed into my anxiety about the state of the planet. It made the global feel horribly local. Too real, too quick, too unnerving.
And now this year. For now - and I must touch every bit of wood in touching distance - we have enjoyed a simply splendid Johannesburg winter. The nights and mornings have been chilly, even cold, but the days have been quite warm and, best of all, full of brilliant sunshine against a blue, blue sky. And memories of my childhood come flooding back to me. And all seems a little more normal - at least for now.
Sure, we've had some grey, overcast spells and lousy Capetonian hues to our autumn days thus far, but winter is upon us and, for now (touching all that wood again), it seems it may just be like old times. And somehow that feels oddly reassuring, uplifting even.
I have no doubt that climate change is real. And my mind tells me that the seasons have still changed here in Johannesburg. There's no point in being delusional.
But at least my soul feels good about being dressed once again in winter clothes whilst seeing a blue sky and bright winter sun outside my window.
I'll take that great feeling - however fleeting it may be - and run with it for all its worth.
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