I had to pop out today for half an hour at lunchtime and when I got out of the car when I arrived home, I was struck by how beautiful the beech tree is at the moment. You’d have to say that beech is “great value” from the moment it starts to burst out of its winter garb until it sinks back into a slumber again well, round about now I reckon. Ours has had a bit of a haircut, having been very neglected in the past we think.

There is something that we all find appealing about autumn colour and this season we seem to be having a really good go at it. It’s the best one for some years apparently – something to do with wet weather. I’ve been impressed by photos of autumn colours on pbase of late. I must say, I am finding it difficult to get out of the studio – not just because of having a demanding day job but also because I really love the flexibility that I’m getting with lighting these days.

We’re preparing for winter, buying lorry-loads of logs, finishing the winter planting – the broad beans went into a freshly dug bed yesterday, all nice and cosy and helping me to save some precious time for spring to focus on the jobs that can’t be done in advance. My winter pansies and wallflowers are all in tubs and under-planted with tulips that’ll poke their heads out when the time is right. These jobs were all done over the weekend and I’m glad to report it. I am still in full-on steamroller mode while I shove, cadjole and push to get things done around here and to build and feather our nest as well as I can.

This year, I feel as though I’m not “running to stay still” as I have done for the last couple of years. I feel as though at home at least, we’re getting back on top of things. Boy I hope I don’t live to regret saying that.

Today is Guy Fawkes day and I’m pleased to report we’re barely troubled by fireworks here – you see it’s not only the C word I’m bah humbug about – I hate fireworks too.

All this is just an amble around wanting to shoot photos of beech leaves really – sometimes I have a “story to be told” and engineer a pic to go with it, other days I have a photo to take and engineer a story to go with my pic. That’s today!


Ooohhh last year was firework-free too - that's really good news!