One Cool Thing: Marie Basting

As part of this year's September Shorts I've asked writer friends to contribute posts inspired by the title One Cool Thing. They'll be telling you about one cool thing they're looking forward to as Autumn approaches. It might be a book or movie, a tabletop or computer game, an event or visit to a special place, a chance to achieve something... or perhaps even an exciting new project.
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Today is the turn of Marie Basting, Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Met and author of the charmingly bonkers Princess BMX! You can check out Marie's website here.

​Marie Basting: Colour

One cool thing I am looking forward to this autumn is the colour. Amber leaves scrunching underfoot, the chestnut tree's orange canopy burning proud above and bracken turning rust, before returning to the earth, ready to restart nature’s cycle.

Autumn takes me back to my childhood. The smell of damp leaves and bonfires, sweet toffee apples that hurt your teeth and of course the slippery pavements as rain turned the trees' rich offering to mush.  I’d shuffle along behind my brother’s pram, staying close to the garden walls where the leaves sheltered, churning the sludge with my wellies while Mum called impatiently from the pelican crossing, warning me of the perils of hidden dog poo. There was always dog poo.

But that’s autumn, I guess. A mixed blessing that comes with a definite sting.  Rich hues dulling replaced by darkness; the early morning chill soon a bitter frost.

It won’t stop me looking forward to it though because I know this brief glimpse of colour is what gives me strength. What carries me through another winter until Spring brings new colours.

​New things to look forward to.