Winter is here

During the week we have been in Bury, we have watched the leaves fall from the trees and vanish - they are raked away to leave the trees and ground bare and wintery.

We have not had marvellous weather here - yesterday it rained all day. We were a little anxious about whether our visas and passports would arrive. This morning they were delivered by special delivery - much to our relief and for Ricky and Susan who were wondering if we would be stuck here.

Last Saturday we met Susan and Ricky in Cambridge for lunch and then saw the play by Alan Bennett "Enjoy". It was set in 1980 and a dark comedy, but most enjoyable.

We have been travelling by bus to Cambridge through Newmarket, much to my excitement, as I have read all of Dick Francis' books, many of which are set in and around Newmarket. We drove past the flats where the horses are exercised, many trainer's yards and homes and two statues of Hyperion - the most famous horse in history.

It is a delightful meander which takes about an hour. Imagine driving along country roads on a double decker bus! The driver generally travels at a high speed.

It has been a delight to watch autumn mature. We arrived in England just as the leaves were losing their summer finery and now they are becoming bare - in readiness for the long winter. The squirrels are busy storing nuts by burying them deep in the ground - they are a nuisance, but they are certainly very cute!