Forget equinoxes and time changes, for me autumn doesn’t officially arrive until the first day I have to put on shoes. Which was today. Had to go out to the hospital this morning for the monthly chemo port cleaning and, while the heavy overnight rain had stopped, it was still a bit blustery and coolish. Dammit. I didn’t need to wear a jacket, but bare legs and mostly bare feet seemed like pushing it, so out came the dreaded tights and the (very dusty) purple shoes.
Not bad, I guess, but some years I’ve managed to keep wearing sandals until the last week of November. Basically it depends on if it rains.
Anyhow, I got a taxi over to the hospital. It’s different since they changed the port cleaning location – I used to go to the chemo infusion room in the evenings when they weren’t so busy and now I go to the blood lab building between 12-1pm. It’s actually a bit better not having to go to the chemo room, but it’s still a monthly reminder of THE CANCER and that the reason I have to keep this port in for five years is that they expect that I’m going to need it again…
But not today. There were two nurses on duty when I walked in and they immediately asked why I was dressed totally in black. I said I wasn’t, that I was wearing purple shoes and red earrings, but that didn’t satisfy them. Then I realised they must have thought I was in mourning, so I told them I was mourning the sun. Cracked them up. And they also relaxed, no longer worried I was a recent widow on top of having a chemo port in my chest.
So now that it’s autumn (it’s not officially winter until the Christmas lights are turned on) I need to go through my pathetic array of “warm clothing” and see what I can pull together. Even though it actually got up to 20º this afternoon. But I don’t want to buy anything new until I lose another ten kilos…
How’s the weather where you are?
casa azahar 
Another 10 kilos – does that mean things are progressing?
And to answer the question, grey, cool and drizzly – but at least not chucking it down like it has been!
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Nah, no progress, but haven’t given up.
It’s only been raining here (off and on) for about 24 hours and already I feel fed up and not able to face another rainy winter like the last two… getting ahead of myself as usual.
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Never give up! We have been here before, and it is one thing at a time, You seem to be doing so much better on so many fronts that it would be a shame to beat yourself up.
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Cold and wet, I think. Certainly cloudy. I haven’t gotten out of bed, yet, because of my back. I may brave doing some work but my heart isn’t in it today… Or for thd last few days… Ick weather does this to me.
I love your el Naturalistas… I cannot wait until Fecruary when they finally get the Spring and Summer shoes in and I can order on of every colour to ensure I have enough to last for many years. I love my red ones.
Here’s a hint. I bought a container of leather furniture wipes (like baby wipes for your leather couch) and wipe mine down when they get dusty or scuffed. They look like new!
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Aaargh, you can see how scuffed they look! I’ve only worn the darned things about three times, but any slight contact with anything leaves them all marked up. Annoying. Thanks for the furniture wipes advice.
Sorry to hear about your back. Have you tried gentle cobras? They work wonders for me.
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The beauty of the el Naturalista (which others might see as a minus) is that the dye is so intense and some comes off in the cloth, actually will re-dye the areas which are scuffed!
Gentle cobras? I’d take a VENOMOUS cobra, at this point…. Actually, today has been more a mental health day. My back has been sore but not as bad as the past week. I have my chiro appointment tomorrow and a massage next Wednesday (but can move it up if i need it earlier).
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Oh… the cobra yoga move…. I haven’t.
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Do it!
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I was just going to say I so understand you on the connection between wearing shoes and accepting that the autumn has come. I started wearing them earlier though, here in Montenegro. Although 20C is pretty cold for me. It’s still sunny and over 20 during the day, but it is autumn for sure. It’s cold at night and I can’t swim in the sea any more. So it is autumn.
Your purple shoes look great! 🙂 Really nice colour!
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For me 20º is chilly if I’m not in direct sunshine. Or if I’m not walking fast. For about a week now I’ve needed the duvet at night… brrrr….
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My feet were assembled out of spare parts so I really can’t go out of the house without sneakers that look like small tanks. Otherwise, my transverse arch instability gives me a pain in the rear.
For me it’s autumn when I have to put on a jacket. Nuisances.
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My feet rebel at being constrained. If I could I’d always go barefoot. I really don’t like *being aware* of my clothing and footwear.
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Yesterday, it was about 17c and sunny around Anchovy World Headquarters…a little cooler today, and possible showers later.
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The cats love the slightly cooler weather here and are much friskier. Well, except for Luna – I don’t think it would be possible for her to get any friskier.
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This rain is crazy . it’s been been bucketing it down here, thunder and lightning. We all had our wellies on earlier today for jumping in puddles – not a patch on your lvoely purple footwear!
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I need to get some wellies. Saw someone wearing a cute pair of yellow rubber ankleboots yesterday that I quite liked.
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I’ve had my wellies out for the last week when walking the dog – there’s been enough rain to ensure patches of mud on the field. My wellies are purple like your shoes.
Yesterday it really bucketed down in the midlands for about 10 minutes and we had a real humdinger of a storm. I work in an office with two walls of windows and on the 6th floor so it was pretty spectacular!
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I LOVE storms when I’m all cosy and dry indoors, and especially when there’s a spectacular view. In Toronto I used to live on the 26th floor downtown, facing the lake, and enjoyed some pretty amazing lightning storms from up there.
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