Just ten days or so ago we were suffering from heat exhaustion and almost unbearable humidity here and it carried off a lot of elderly people. Our poor vicar has had 34 services in 31 days, not all funerals but a large majority.

Now it has turned very chilly although the sun is still shining most of the time. I have had to stock up on cosy coke for the fire and we have had to have a fire in the evenings for the last four days now.

Even our House Martins are leaving us a month early, normally they do not depart until late September or early October, most have already gone, just a few late stragglers or late fledglings still around. As soon as they move out of their nests under the eaves, the sparrows move in for the autumn and winter months. They are not so vocal as the house martins so they don't keep us awake.  House martins tend to chatter and squabble all night long, but I always miss them when they go and I am always happy to see them come back in late April or early May.

Some of our trees are shedding their leaves already, they haven't even waited to change into their autumn colours first. Probably partly due to the excessive heat and dryness we have had.

I just wonder what our winter will be like this year?