New kit, new teacher, new school year... and all those satchels are full of promise

IT'S that start of term feeling... Not much fun, perhaps, if you're a teacher or an unwilling student, but for the rest of us there is something very pleasurable about early September.

Maybe it's the memory of everything clean and fresh. All those starchy new uniforms, shiny shoes, pointy new pencils and new exercise books - unwritten on, unblemished, no smudges, scratches, crossing outs or dismal marks.

It's the start of a new year. And much nicer weather than January so it's easier to make and keep resolutions. And still a chance of a few pleasant late summer weeks before our thoughts turn to bonfires and then C******** and all its attendant panic.

The colours are glorious, wonderful russets and golds, the early mornings fresh enough to get the blood going, make you feel alive.

There is also a pleasurable feeling of the world getting back to normal again. After a summer of holidays, of children around the house, of seizing every opportunity to be out and about in the sunshine, it's almost enjoyable to get back into the work routine, put away the faded T-shirts and flip-flops and get the grown-up clothes out again.

Everything at this time of year is still full of promise. We literally haven't yet blotted our copybooks.

We will, no doubt, we will. But for now let us relish the blank page and the new start to the school year.

WHERE have they all been? One of the oddest aspects of this summer has been the lack of children. Normally our village green and playing field are swarming with kids but this year they've been eerily absent. No football players, no mad cyclists or skateboarders, no huge games of rounders or enterprising lads offering to wash the car.

Even in town, the only children around seem to have been with weary looking parents waiting in the queue for school shoes.

Then suddenly, term starts and there are hundreds of them all over the place, mainly in cars being driven by parents and parked on pavements, on corners, across drives.

Maybe they've all been away for the summer, on holiday or in playschemes and summer camps and staying with granny. Or just indoors watching TV or playing on the computer.

Whatever it is, it's quite cheering to have them back - and even more cheering if they could walk to school instead of causing twice a day chaos.

Published: 07/09/2005