We are working tremendously hard at the moment – we’ve had five years of doing nothing to our home because of lack of both time and funds and now we have managed to put one of these problems to bed (time), we’ve been scurrying round working on things we can do for free or for a very small amount of cash. (Hence hand-making paving slabs among other things.)

This weekend, along with some painting and gardening, we’ve been to the dump to get rid of yet another car-full of crap. It was while I was on my way into the back of the garage that I spotted this Virginia Creeper leaf that has fallen from the vine that has somehow managed to plant itself and grow across the back of the garage.

You know what that means? (Apart from the oddness of why a Virginia Creeper would plant itself in our garden many miles from anywhere it might feel more at home.) It means that the summer is over – VC leaves don’t fall until quite late because they are busy providing us with one of the best autumn spectacles that is known to horticulture – their amazing colour.

I am a week behind with postings. I know this. I have (poor) photos but I do not have much else…