We are enjoying these lovely October days here and settling into the Autumn mood.

Spending time with friends, catching up and enjoying a lively conversation over a bottle (or more).

Enjoying time in the kitchen, dreaming up different ways of using an abundance of fruit from the garden and cooking my way through a long list of dishes for a weekend with friends at home.  The pleasure is as much in the fridge full of leftovers and deciding whether we should eat the rest of the cake or freeze it.  What do you think?

There’s a bit of thought-provoking discussion too, arising from the Literature Festival events we enjoyed not to mention the cards on the table

I’ve particularly enjoyed being outdoors in the last few days and a bit of Autumn sunshine seems to have brought our small corner into glorious technicolour

and I still can’t resist picking up a conker when I find one (or two).

It’s the season to feel thankful, then, because Pete’s delivered a new supply of logs and my hero has done a fine job of stacking them.  Though we’ve not lit our stove yet, the nights are getting chilly and it surely won’t be long before we do.  After all, it’s Hull Fair week!

Hull Fair is held during the week nearest the 11th October each year and my childhood memories include wrapping up warm to go there.  Almost every year, the first week in October is mild enough for us to comment but then almost certainly, “Fair week” will turn cold and brisk.  Aaah, happy memories of fish and chips, Wrights brandy snaps and toffee apples!