My word: Thirty days hath September

Throughout this week, Kenyans have joked about the weather -- that the cold July weather has migrated into September, or that September is pretending to be July.

But I’m not surprised. I remember this season very well. You see, my daughters were born in July and October and I remember shivering through the first weeks of their birth and wondering when it will be all over.

I also remember this season for another thing -- something I call the ’ember months.

These are the months when those who are lucky to be able to light fires in their homes (without burning them down) will spend hours trying to warm their fingers and toes and not to let the embers of the fire die.

September with the cold creeping in, November with October’s chill still lingering on and December when the heavy rains leave people drenched and floors and carpets submerged.

And there’s one other thing about the ’ember months. It’s when you’re likely to either anticipate the end of the year and start to pick up your pace or when you resign yourself to your fate and decide that you will try again next year.

So are you going to let the embers of your fire die down or are you going to add some firewood and fan the flames to keep the fire going?

Christine Koech, Editor, Eve