Ready for autumn

18 September 2005

Autumn’s very much on its way, isn’t it? I’m wearing two pairs of socks, a long-sleeved top, my hoodie and a pair of jeans. But my legs are a bit chilly and I’m beginning to think it’s coming to the time for wearing my cords, which I find strangely exciting cos it also means that it’s coming to the time when I can wear the nice red jumper I bought a few months ago! I do find something oddly cosy and homely about wrapping up a bit warmer and battening down the hatches.

The vegetable patch is dug and weed-free, ready for next year, though Mother Nature will of course sprinkle in the weeds before next spring and I’ll have to do it all over again. Sweetcorn is next year’s crop. I just like the idea of having such enormous plants at the bottom of the garden and having a crop I can’t actually reach to harvest. Although, I did freak myself out somewhat with the thought of signs-like alien invasions in my corn.

With any luck, the plants should be big enough to look after themselves while I’m away next year. Suzy and I are planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands, so I’m looking forward, not only to that, but also to seeing how much the sweetcorn grows in the 12 days I shall be away. It may also be interesting to see how I do without my iMac – without email! – for 12 days. Cold compresses may be required.

And speaking of La Sooze, she’s currently in Bali on a business trip. Maybe Metal Monkey should do a business trip. To Jamaica perhaps. Anyway, she’ll be back, laden down with new stock for Gecko, in a couple of weeks. I must organise an evening with Lauren and Helen so that she can regale us with stories of long flights and jetlag and I can consequently cancel the Galapagos trip.