We've had a number of perfect Autumn days lately - days where the morning air is crisp, there's no wind and the cloud is high and white.

We've walked down the canal and fed the ducks, been to play ball in the park, been swimming, gone for strolls over the last couple of weeks or so and had a thoroughly nice time on our doorstep.

As much as I like other times of the year, I love autumn - it's a year in flux, not cold enough to call winter, not warm enough to be summer anymore, the harvest is gathered, the kids are back at school, normality returns to the world after the frantic stream of energy of the summer holidays.

And we have hallowe'en coming up, which we usually enjoy. A couple of days before, I'll clear off the mantelpiece and we'll buy the sacrificial pumpkin, dig out all the candles, scrape a year of wax off the candelabras and make a glowing tribute to Samhain. Don't worry, we'll take photos.

We're off to feed the ducks tomorrow morning, probably in the rain. I might see how close I can get to a couple of mallards.