hey Fingerbuster; we've had VERY mild winters in Boston the last several years! (No snow whatsoever last year and only 3-4 days below 30 degrees). Unfortunately, it's being said we may get our missing snow this year. Yesterday morning was a mix of snow and rain; yucky! It made for bad roads and lots of accidents during rush hour. Then the sun came out in the afternoon and it was a picturesque autumn day. This week, temps in the 50s during the day and 30s at night. I have no heating oil and I guess I'd better rectify that. I'm only bothered when I am sitting around at night. The cats cluster on the bed. In the morning, here I sit comfortable at the computer eating breakfast wearing wool socks and a fleece pullover. Gosh, it's nice being a hearty lass. I hope to get caught up on my hiking this week. I was born on October 23rd and so this season is in my blood and I look forward to it every year...Despite the drought we do have some nice crisp reds in New England! I was out in the Berkshires two weekends ago and the colors were doing well. I was in England all last week and it rained! I did get to see apples on the trees in the Glastonbury orchards and that was magical...I took what I hope are good photographs on my vintage Pentax...the fields at the base of the Tor are mostly privately owned for grazing dairy cows and sheep. The old apple trees still bear gorgeous apples. I did not eat any; now I wonder why. But it was such a gift to SEE them!

In any case, I am always looking for ways to spend more time in the UK; is January good for you? ;)

Peg