Everything in my garden is saying it's going to be bloody cold. Not necessarily snowy, but bloody cold. The Bastard Service tree has been stripped of the berries already, most before they even fattened up, the pyrocantha is being reduced to stalks and even the two yew berries were being eyed up by a young tit at the weekend. The holly berries are scarce this year, but that could be to do with the cold snap we had after an early spring this year.

It's October, we're supposed to be having rain and cloud - instead we've had clear blue skies, cold, sunny days and no rain since September. I had to water the garden last week, and I'll do it again at the weekend.

I know that the sloes and blackberries were ready for picking in late August/early Sept, there won't be any left by now for making sloe gin or jam. It's only the hard fruits that are left now and they are being decimated by the birds. I've not seen a single wasp since my birthday and that's unusual. I suspect they have already gorged on the soft fruits and insects and gone to hibernation early.

And the surest sign it's cold out? It's only October but I've started wearing my boots again.... last year it was sandals until St Nicholas' day!

LTS