First forecast of flurries today, but so far only rain. It's chilly and raw, and the trees have dropped more than half their leaves. After so much unseasonably warm weather, it's a bit of a surprise but oddly reassuring to be putting on a warmth layer under the waterproofs.

No more decluttering here at the moment except for another outward bound bag of clothing that I will never wear again. I'm considering the purchase of blinds for the music room and adapting the heavy curtains that I bought for it when it was a bedroom so they can hang from a sturdy wooden or metal rod, leaving the top of the centre windows -- a big ornamental transom -- uncovered. I suspect that project will cost a whack, but then so did the curtains. That room also still needs painting; it's the one with the puce-and-aubergine colour scheme.

A friend came over for supper last night. Watson the cat put on a tremendous display of lap-lolling and shoulder-climbing between courses, purring loudly and generally making the occasion all about *him*. My friend (a dog person) was impressed by this behaviour, unaware that most of it was designed to persuade me to undertake our usual evening routine in the comfy chair in front of the telly. Cats are so normative.