又中又英｜Wreak havoc with

It will soon be autumn, the season I like the best. Most Americans call it fall instead of autumn because it is the time of year when leaves fall from trees. Meteorologists say autumn, or fall, usually starts on September 22, or 23, in the northern hemisphere. I no longer put stock in such dates because climate change has wreaked havoc with the seasons. A meteorologist is an expert in weather conditions. The expression “put stock in” means to have confidence in someone or something. The expression “wreak havoc with” used this way means to make a situation more confusing or difficult.

Climate change has caused confusion in weather patterns, making the job of meteorologists more difficult. I hope they are right in saying autumn will arrive in late September because climate change has made this summer the hottest on record. I am now in Indianapolis where the summers are normally not too hot but has been very hot this summer. Luckily, the weather in the past few days has become cool and pleasant in the mornings and evenings. I now go to the backyard of my brother-in-law’s house at around 7.30 in the morning for a large cup of English Breakfast tea.

I go again at around 6 in the evening to have a glass of whiskey. Soon I will be able to see the leaves in the backyard turn red, like I did when I lived in Washington DC years ago. It’s beautiful to look at. But I won’t be in the US to see the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees. I will be back in Asia to avoid the snow!

很快又到秋天，我最喜愛的季節。大部分美國人都會叫秋天做 fall而非autumn，因為一年到了這個時候樹上的葉子會落下（fall）。氣象學家（meteorologist）會說，北半球的秋天（fall）通常會在九月二十二或二十三日開始。我不再相信（put stock in）這些日子，因為氣候變化已經混亂了（wreaked havoc with）季節更替。A meteorologist就是專門研究氣象的學者。習語“put stock in”是指對某人或某事有信心。習語“wreak havoc with”在這裏是指去令情況變得更混亂或艱難。

氣候變化已經引起了季節模式的混亂，令氣象學家（meteorologists）的工作愈發困難。我希望他們說秋天會於九月下旬來臨的說法是準確的，因為氣候變化令到這個夏天成為了有紀錄以來最熱的一個。我現在於印第安納波利斯，一般來說夏天不會太炎熱，但今個夏天卻是非常酷熱。幸而在過去幾天，早上和傍晚的天氣涼爽和舒適了些。我現在每個早上大約七時半，便會去我姊夫家的後院享用一杯英國早餐茶。

到了傍晚六時，我又會再去，喝一杯威士忌。很快我就可以見到後院的樹葉轉紅，就像我多年前住在華盛頓特區的時候一樣。那實在賞心悅目。不過，我不會待在美國去看葉子轉棕色和落葉了，我會回到亞洲，好躲避冬天的風雪！

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻