whatever happened to autumn?

Is it business acumen, greed or stupidity that makes shopkeepers put out their first batch of sledges and snow-shovels when it's 28 degrees and not a cloud in the sky?

I've already spotted baubles and christmas wrapping paper on the shelves, which is bad enough. But the weathermen are now forecasting snow in October (that's tomorrow then) so we'd better get out our wellies and fur hats. Personally, I think they're still getting flack over Michael Fish's report in October 1987 when his 'light breeze' uprooted half of Kew Gardens.