At season's end

The summer season has come and gone. This long weekend marks the end of the official summer vacation for students here in the USA and specifically in Boston. Labour Day started for me at midnight in the one corner of The Burren with a beer in my hand in the company of a few mates. Of course, anywhere else in the world Labour Day is held on 1 May, but that date is synonymous with May Day, a distinctly Red commemoration - too much to stomach for US legislators who have the bastions of Capitalism to uphold along with those other virtues of The Dream, crusades and that eternal institution of sublime bondage, marriage.

Delightfully pissy weather ensured that any remnants of travel plans were aborted at the concept phase. The England in New England clearly demonstrated its enduring power. With abundant Pythonesque mischief, Irony exerted herself true to form today by dialing in pleasant weather just as I decided voluntarily to work half-day.

But let me not pretend that there were much in the pipeline this past summer season. Truth be said, this season has been rather subdued - hovering on the edge of sordidness. Grand schemes to go hiking did not transpire, partly due to lack of enthusiasm from candidate hiking partners. A trip to San Francisco did happen and was pleasant enough in a way.

This weekend my good and close pal Thomas got married to a Greek woman, Vasiliki. Budget and leave constraints kept me from attending. I'll see him in October when my big travel for the year will take off, airline antics permitting. BA and BAA alike are not inspiring much confidence of lately.

And so the day ends and it's time to head for bed.