First signs of winter

I went out for a walk with Luca this afternoon and on the way caught this lovely young tree with its leaves just starting to turn. The colours are starting to be deep red and orange. I think I love Autumn as much as Spring, it sets you up for the darker, colder days and nights ahead.

My long thought today is about how wonderful it is to have four seasons in this great country of ours, can you imagine what it would be like to just have sun everyday, or snow for months on end?

I know how much we all moan about the weather sometimes, but how lucky are we when it's a good year, when the summer is summer, hot and bright with long summer days giving you all the time in the world.

And when winter is winter, when you leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark, ready to eat a hot stew and snuggle up in front of a burning fire.

Or as the snow falls and covers the ground and trees in a beautiful coating of cold soft powdery whiteness we wonder how long it will last. The best thing is for most of us on the southern coast of England, just when you've had enough of it, it melts away only for you to wish it was back a week later.

I love these golden brown months.