It's coming ...

... winter that is. Not yet but all the portents are here, trees and bushes turning from their summer greens into a wonderfully diverse palate of reds and browns that are truly magnificent. Makes a Dulux colour chart look almost monochrome by comparison.

Local farmers are harvesting the last of summer's crops particularly sunflowers and maize, much ploughing, harrowing and other activity is going on too with winter wheat and barley being sown. Some are preparing deep litter byres so that cattle will be sheltered from the worst of winter's elements, I shall miss seeing those wonderfully huge Aquitaine Blonde cows in their pastures.

Several species of birds have already migrated for warmer climes in particular the spectacular looking hoopoes with a red crest that looks something akin to a miniature Marigold glove. Others are returning to overwinter, already the robin that lives in our hedge is back as are some great, blue and coal tits. Must remember to stock up on fat balls for them, they enjoy pecking at them and we love watching them on the bird feeder.

Little furry things are also preparing for the cold season. There are fewer mole hills being thrown up around our house now, our neighbours cats are catching fewer mice, voles and shrews as they are getting winter quarters ready. It is also the time of year that edible dormice are seeking snug places to retreat into, they just love domestic roof spaces. Several have tried to lodge in our upper bedroom roof in the past week but we have managed to thwart them so far by leaving a radio playing loud French pop music all day in the room. They are nocturnal and hate being disturbed during the day and find any sort of noise particularly a nuisance. If the loud sound of the radio were to be insufficient in itself then French pop music will certainly have the desired effect - it is dire, seriously awful even by comparison to the Anglo-American fare.

The French government was recently very concerned at the state of their popular music industry because listeners and buyers express an overwhelming preference for non-domestic genres and issued a decree that every music radio station must play at least ten minutes music from the home industry every hour! Protectionism or desperation?

Time too to put away summer clothing for warmer things, put the carpet back down in the sitting room, winterize the rest of the house, start getting a supply of good books and jigsaw puzzles in which will all be in turn swapped amongst friends winter progresses.

The good thing is that winter does not really begin here until mid-late November and is usually done by the end of February. We live in a very rural and sparsely populated area where it is not only the wildlife that hibernates but the population as well except for the odd essential foray to the shops.

The final event that evidences the onset of winter is arriving hopefully tomorrow in the form of a farm wagon load of oak for our fuel store. There is nothing quite like a gorgeous, roaring and blazing log fire to make a person feel snug and contented along with a decent cuppa nd the odd medicinal brandy.

Happy winter everyone ...