It's Almost Summer... (again...)

...for Knots in the String.

A very quick newsletter to wish everyone who kindly subscribes to Knots in the String a happy holiday and safe and convivial festive period.

We’re rapidly approaching my favourite time of year. Come Boxing Day, the fetters fall away and we truly begin summer. I hope we will have good weather, some perfect boating days and much swimming – spending time with the family in the water and out. Always looking for the quiet, unpopulated places.

It’s the same thing each day. Wake up, have breakfast, walk the Terrier somewhere peaceful and safe and then decide which beach to swim at. In the afternoon, I might sit inside and write or even do some cooking with fresh-picked veg from our garden.

Our armour for the summer is very simple:

A hat. (Cancer Council)

Swimsuit. (Amazon)

Sunglasses. (Chemists Warehouse)

A rash vest. (Ezibuy)

Loose linen overshirt (Target)

Tesselate towel. (Past Christmas Gift)

Suntan lotion. (Supermarket)

After sun moisturiser and cooling lotion. (Supermarket)

Oh, and this:

This is Baldr Skull Crusher – a formidable weapon I have begun to carry in summer to protect myself and my now almost blind Terrier from the uncontrolled dogs and rough-house teenaged kids of the Summer Incomers.

It has a legendary provenance:

The strangely-carved club, Baldr, was wielded by Brynjar the Bold to save his village from marauding dragons. Brynjar was a huge man, many feet taller than the tallest villager, with shoulders like staves and arms as thick as an elg haunch.

As the dragons attacked, he swung the club in vicious circles, maiming the five dragons – breaking wings, jaws, legs, laying waste with a fury only matched by dragon fire. But with each massive swing, Baldr reduced the dragon power. Flames began to splutter and the dragons began to fall from the sky. Brynjar jumped upon their broken backs and swung Baldr so hard that each dragon skull was cracked wide open. Baldr Skull Crusher lost two of its carved horns when a dragon reared up in its death throes and crunched down upon the head of the club.

So say some of the legends surrounding Brynjar the Bold and Baldr Skull Crusher…

(Whilst Skull Crusher has legendary status, I’m not sure I could be so fearsome. I’m relying on the arms-length look of the thing!)

Have a great Christmas holiday everyone and see you on the other side.

Song for today:

One of my favourites. I’m sure I’ve probably played it before.