Gathering

It's not going to rain, but I like the way these clouds are billowing up from the horizon as the sun sinks, illuminating the vines. In 24 hours the daytime temperature has dropped from 18C to about 9. Autumn is definitely here, and the vines have swiftly started to change colour and drop their leaves. To celebrate, S swept the chimney and lit the wood burner for the first time this year (we could have managed without, but it felt right).

We also accomplished the six-monthly furniture-moving ritual: switch the living room around so that the table is by the windows and the sofas are around the fire. And now it's wine o'clock so we are enjoying a chilled white Corbières and the last of the cheese straws I made at the weekend.