As the season passes into full autumn, we prepare for ‘mistsand mellow fruitfulness’ and mornings are certainly marked by early mist andgeneral dampness.

I feel as though our country is in the grip of an eternalautumn, with many of the wonderful sights, sounds and traditions falling like crumpledleaves to earth, yet with no promise of renewal. Our ways are changing, as areour people. I miss the older generation; their stalwart stoicism, wry sayings, self-deprecation,and good humour. I’m trying not to be miserable, but goodness – it’s hard whenevery day brings stark, depressing world news and people turn insidethemselves. I must try not to be maudlin!

Here are some of the better things going on around here:

The tomatoes are gone; we made a few jars of chutney usingthem and our own apples and chillis – this is most rewarding. The chutney is supposed to be left for a couple of months before using, but we couldn't wait and have already tried it: the verdict is that we have found a really good recipe! Let me know if you'd like the link.

In the garden the weather has been fairly mild and colour abounds, deeper and richerthan the brightness of summer. There is still much work to do, but we managed to create some new hanging baskets to cheer the front of the house, andplant some bowls of tiny crocus bulbs – which are already shooting! 

A visit over the county border to a lovely Cornish garden centre led to the purchase of plants for the hanging baskets, together with a couple of little ornamental trees and some heathers.


And the fuchsias are still going strong!

My writing has been a huge – yet enjoyable - struggle. I’malmost finished, but the climax of this third book has been the most difficultthing I have ever written. Perhaps I have made it too complicated? Readers willtell me! I need to begin to think about fussy things like formatting and covers,so we are almost done. Today is All Hallows' Eve, when people talk of ghosts and spirits. Some of these take on a new dimension in my book, and I can't wait to hear people's thoughts and comments, so when it is finished and published, I will let you know.

Books to recommend? Well, I haven’t been reading as much asusual because the writing has taken up so much of my time. But here are acouple of highlights, and some lowlights:

‘The Last Word’ by Elly Griffiths is a ‘murder/mystery’guaranteed to cheer you up. My review:

Elly Griffiths writes such great books, and this is noexception. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. There are a lot ofcharacters, many suspects and almost too much information to follow through thetwists and turns of the plot. But it is the vividly portrayed Edwin, Benedictand Natalka who are so engaging, and I was delighted not to be left on acliff-edge at the end. Five stars, and a best in year. Highly recommended.Would I read it again? Definitely!

‘Goodnight Vienna’ by Marius Gabriel is a most unusual novelset mostly in Vienna in 1937, a dangerous time for any foreigner to visit. Icommented: ‘Superb, terrifying, unputdownable. Highly recommended, but not forthe faint-hearted! Five glittering stars. Would I read it again? Not for awhile!

I decided to revisit Jeffrey Archer, whose books I enjoyed manyyears ago when he began to write. The latest series about D I Warwick is notfor me. I found the two books I tried dated and clichéd. Admittedly I readbooks 3 and 4 rather than the first two, but I won’t be trying those!

Resolutions: do not listen to the News, keep gardening whenever possible, and enjoy the season's colours, scents and sounds. There is so much to smile about, and I hope you can find the same wherever you are. All best wishes!