During the early hours of this morning, while we were fast asleep, time shifted. Unaware, secure in our beds, we were thrust back an hour. Daylight saving ended.
Nora will not be pleased. With the disappearance of the long days, our dog’s favourite after-dinner activity will come to an end.
Every evening, Nora moves into position. She sits up tall in front of our almost-to-the-floor living room window. As still as a statue, she watches and she waits. She’s willing to wait a long time, do whatever it takes.
Nora sits at the window. We sit in front of the TV watching Masterchef. When our episode comes to an end, someone disappears into the kitchen to make some tea. Then someone else asks, “Shall we watch another episode?” A few flicks of the remote control and a second instalment appears. We settle back in our seats, mugs in our hands, eyes on the screen.
Nora’s eyes stare out the window. They scan our front garden. They flick from side to side, searching.
Then all of a sudden, Nora moves. She springs into action. She leaps forward. There is a huge crash, and we yell, “Nora! You’ll break the window.” Our heavy dog rebounds off the vibrating glass. She hits the carpet. And then she turns her head and looks at us sheepishly with her enormous brown eyes: I couldn’t help myself. I saw a cat!
Night after night, we watch Masterchef while Nora watches out for cats. It’s our confined-to-the-house daylight saving routine.
But daylight saving has ended. Nora’s evenings are about to change. What will she do next? Will she spend the winter months snoozing on the sofa now that cat watching season is over?
And what about us? Will our routine continue the same, week after week, month after month, never-ending? Or will our old life return? Surely the world will be back to normal by the time daylight saving next lights up our evenings?
Like Nora, we’re looking beyond the glass. We live in hope.
Photo: I took this photo during a recent walk through the bush with my daughter Imogen and our dogs, Nora and Quinn. Can you see the new growth on the burnt trees? The bush is coming back to life!