I love autumn!

(Note the monster on the right!)

Late October/early November are one of my favourite times of year - clear, cold days with the colours of fire just can't be beaten. I feel like hibernating; I have a deep pleasure in retreating inside to an open fire, a warm, sleepy feeling as the nights draw in much earlier and a thrill in digging out my favourite hats and scarves for when I do venture outside - hopefully into a crisp, frosty morning. I like to savour all this before the winter rain sets in...for the next six months!

Of course, all this would be even more wonderful and romantic if we had some heating in the house that actually bloody worked. As for the open fire, yes we've got that going but any heat it might be expected to throw out goes up the flaming chimney - no pun intended - and we're sitting on the sofa in hats, scarves and gloves under woollen blankets with chattering teeth and cold noses. We've had no heating since late spring and quite frankly it's now getting beyond a joke, especially since the oven gave out over two weeks ago too and there's no sign of that being fixed in the near future either...what are we paying for, I wonder?

This evening Kim and I did one of the greatest things that you can do at this time of year and we went to our local 'bonfire night' in the nearby village of Devoran. It's small enough to have a party atmosphere and to bump into your friends, but large enough to have a wonderful display of fireworks. And you may not believe it, but it was actually warmer there, near the bonfire, than it is at home! This picture is for Kim's Auntie Linda and Uncle Stewart, just to remind them of what they're missing!!! (Celebrating burning people on a fire....nice - and oh, so English!)