Autumn Arrives

Over the past week, the nights have been noticeably drawing in, with the chickens taking themselves to bed much earlier. The temperature has dropped and the autumnal drizzle is making a determined appearance from battleship grey clouds that cover the sky. The chickens have been snuggling together at night, keeping each other warm.

It’s the same in the mornings too. I love the idea of getting up early to watch the sunrise but I find that my bed is at its most comfortable at the time I have to get up. So year after year, I miss the summer sunrises. But at this time of year, I am rewarded for reluctantly throwing aside the duvet after the alarm goes off. Wrapped up like a Michelin man, I toddle off to the allotment in the pitch black. The chickens as ever take a dim view of me blundering around their coops bumping into things because yet again, I forgot my torch.

Once everyone is fed and watered, i tend to amble up the plot, enjoying the start of the sunrise. Pausing for a few minutes, it’s lovely to watch the sky change colour, the first glimpses of yellow and orange appearing in the east.