As you may have guessed, the sun has departed the sky in my part of the world, hiding its face behind a thick blanket of grey mist and deep cloud that has produced a constant mix of drizzle and downpours for the past two days. I spent the Labour Day weekend snuggled into a polar fleece, my toes bundled up in fuzzy socks and my hands wrapped around mug after mug of hot tea. My cat vanished into the closet, seeking the warmth of my stash of winter blankets after a summer of sprawling in sunbeams. I was tempted to join her on several occasions as I watched the world outside my balcony vanish into the mists and rain. The warm breeze that had been a joy all summer was replaced by chill wind that tried to leach the heat right out of me, and I closed up the windows with a sense of loss, knowing there’s little chance they’ll be open again until next year.

This spring I met a lady from Philadelphia at my gym, which happens to be in a hotel. We got to chatting and she point blank asked me how we coped with all the rain. I just laughed and shook my head and said “I was born here, so I’m used to it.” As I look out the window though, I don’t think anyone really gets used to this weather, we just learn to cope with it. Smiles were dimmer today, as if the grey outside was colouring our moods as well as the sky. Of course, it was also the first day of school, and I was looking at a great many unhappy students and haggard parents, so perhaps the weather wasn’t the only thing to blame. Still, the topic of conversation today is full of commentary about the weather, as bleak and chill a topic as the weather itself. I hope this isn’t the last we see of the sun this year, and that summer will be back for one last encore before hitting the tropics for what will no doubt be a long, grey winter. On the upside, cooler weather means its time to break out the crock pot and start making those comforting meals of stews, soups and casseroles that warm up the body and the soul. And perhaps now the zucchini harvest is finally finished.

Yes, I said zucchini poisoning. I’m sure I am suffering from it. An acute overdose brought about by my boss bringing in three baskets of the cursed green vegetables in the last week with orders to take them home. I believe the insinuation was “or you won’t’ get paid” but I could have been wrong and that gleam in her eye might have just been allergies... but I wasn't taking that chance.

Because not everyone trains for years to get into the Guinness Book of Records.

If I could, I’d sell the movie rights to the story of what happened, it was that memorable.