FROM THE NEWS DESK

Kia Ora koutou,

I have been secretly loving the change in weather simply because I am a sucker for autumnal colours. But as I share my secret with others I am blown away by how many people have never come across the word autumnal.

It started a few years ago when a friend told me outright there was no such word. We argued for some time over it, and I’m still not sure he is convinced.

We have even had complaints at the paper when it has been used in print.

Then yesterday I met two young men, relatively intelligent young men I have to say, and neither of them had ever heard the word before.

It has got me thinking that perhaps it is not as well-known a word as it is in the UK because, in general, New Zealand does not glow red and orange at this time of year.

Be thankful then, in North Canterbury, that we are surrounded by so many deciduous trees, and let’s embrace the autumnal season, and the word.

– Emma. EDITOR: Shannon Beynon, shannon.beynon@stuff.co.nz; 027 497 3717

NEWS: Kim Nutbrown; kim.nutbrown@stuff.co.nz; 027 807 1770

NEWS: Emma Dangerfield; emma.dangerfield@stuff.co.nz; 027 228 1851

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