Thursday 30 October 2008

Unexpected Weather

1.45 this afternoon found me ensconced happily in our local noodle bar, with two dear friends and my Godson, merrily gossiping and enjoying chicken satay vermicelli. Suddenly, a movement outside caught my eye, and to my amazement, it was simply pelting down with hail! We tried to wait it out, but I was due back at work for 2:00 and ended up having to make a dash through the hail back to the library. Although it was cold, and I had not brought my umbrella with me today, I did not get too wet because it was hailing so hard a great many of the hailstones rebounded off of me rather than soaked in!

Now, as suddenly as it began, it has stopped, and the light has an almost golden quality to it. Just a small adventure in my day, but remarkable nonetheless- I can’t remember the last time we had a proper hail storm.

It has served to remind me that winter really is on its way, Summer is well and truly gone, and we are in the midst of a scrumptious Autumn. I can hardly believe it is going to be November at the weekend. I don’t feel like I have quite hit my stride yet this Autumn, and I am going to spend the next few days really snuggling into it.

Tonight when I get home, I will be heating apple juice to make mulled winter Pimms, and hanging my autumnal wreath on the front door. I have bought my pumpkin ready for Friday (the wartiest, ugliest one I could find, which is strangely beautiful!) and I am going to put it on a cake stand on my windowsill. I am going to scatter some candles about the living room, and look for a soft new throw for the sofa, order Mrs Miniver to read (again!) and bake a pumpkin cake with orange buttercream frosting. We are going to visit our farm shop at the weekend, and buy just one or two each of lots of varieties of apples and pears, drink apple juice and finally finish knitting my autumn scarf.

Wherever you are, I hope you are having a scrumptious, blissful autumn.

No comments: