Overcast

After all of yesterday's business, today was mostly  home-based, though still busy in a different way! In the morning I  started making test batches of the final two flavours (spiced carrot-cake and triple chocolate) of cupcake for Chris and Lizzy's wedding - only to find that a vital ingredient was missing which necessitated an early  dash to Waitrose. Both recipes worked well - tomorrow I'll ice and decorate them. 

The afternoon was split between making fondant icing decorations (though the easy roses weren't at all easy, so I'll try again tomorrow) and a brisk walk round Ferry Meadows in very breezy and relentlessly overcast conditions. You can see from this image that there is still virtually no autumn colour from the willows and oaks.

Yesterday's cheap farm shop pumpkin was used to make a pumpkin and sage risotto, served with cavolo nero - a deliciously warming and comforting dish for a late autumn evening.