We had a chilly start this morning, the first time since May where I’ve been in the full sun and still felt the air cold against my exposed skin. The swallows are definitely gathering although they’re not yet gone. The ride down for the paper required jacket, hat and gloves both on the way out and on the way back. The first frost is forecast for tonight – time to tuck Seymour up for the night in his cold frame and pick over the last of the French beans. I’ve been chopping wood ready for the official launch of our stove tonight, although the glass for the door hasn’t arrived yet so it’s still more of an open fire. We’ve just taken delivery of a 1,000 litres of oil, which hopefully will last a little longer than it did last winter. And this morning? This morning we had porridge. With strawberries, I’ll grant you, but still. Porridge.
Better go out and chop more wood…
You say porridge (with strawberries), I say oatmeal (with blueberries and cranberries) – either way, it is indeed a true sign of the season. I also say, Good riddance (at least in our neck of the woods) to summer and all its false promises. At least fall is supposed to be wet and chilly.
shame. We actually had a summer this year which is a bit of a novelty for us
Seasonality, it’s what makes living in the UK., so fantastic. Each season has its own beauty, and it’s a joy to cycle in each. Though they do it abroad, on the continent and in the americas, I will not cycle in icy conditions, I’ve had a few falls now, and will wimp out. How do you manage in icy conditions.
I prefer to call our weather ‘uni-season’, with an optional warmer interlude of unpredictable brevity. Similarly, the other half stepped out this morning and promptly announced the arrival of ‘the year’s mono-cloud’.
I wish we were going to have a frost tonight — a good hard one. That would mean the farmers wouldn’t have to spray defoliant on the cotton so they can strip (harvest) it. Not likely though. Got up to 90F (32C) today and it’s 69F (20C) now at 10 o’clock at night. I envy you being able to brew something hot (tea? coco?) and settle back back and enjoy your long awaited wood burning stove. Oh, to be able to snuggle up to a cheerfully burning fire with my lap robe on, strategically placed kitties, a pot of tea and a good book!
welshcyclist – I’ve braved the ice a bit more than I used to in London, but I’m very very cautious on it. Letting the tyres down a little helps, as does getting off and walking where it’s really dicy
Kirsten – we’ve had summers like that … where are you?
WOL – trust me, the cold gets a bit old after a while. I’m actually more of a warm-weather person, 90° sounds pretty good to me!
Mind how you go with that stove,I wouldn’t leave it unsupervised, without proper air flow control they can draw like a steam engine. As we know to our cost, Mr Uhdd left the door ajar, ahemmmm!!.
Wood burners are fantastic; we’ve got our lit now just to take the edge off the cold.
Porridge service will be resumed when the Aga is re-lit
Are you still toughing it out without the Aga? How hardy. We broke down and got the Rayburn re-lit weeks ago.
I think it’s going to be a hard winter this year, although in oxford at the moment it’s very good weather we are having. I’ve never tried fruit with porridge,I’ll give it a go now though.
John
I’d heard that too about the hard winter. Hope not as bad as the last one!
Give the fruit a go – we don’t cook it with the strawberries in it, just add them at the end. Although my uncle has got quite creative with what he adds to porridge in the cooking, including raisins and desiccated coconut…
We are in Northwestern America, about 25 miles inland of the Pacific Coast, up against the Cascade foothills. Our climate is very similar to yours with the exception of occasional summer dry spells and occasional winter cold of -10 degrees F.