I blogged about the hedgerow festivities at the height of summer.  Now we are most definitely into autumn here’s a view of the holly that’s growing at the end of our lane.

Those berries are turning red in preparation for winter.

The most worrying thing is that there are heaps of them.  Loads and loads.  This is not a good sign if you like mild winters.

As lots of holly berries is a sign of a long and cold winter.  Given the summer was short lived this year with above average rain (we’ve had 350mm already this year) and more southerlies blowing in every day.  I’d say we’re in for a chilly ride in the coming months.

Time to stock up on wood.  Crank up the underfloor heating in the bathroom and switch on the heated towel rail.  Oh, and figure out how this wonderful heat pump heating system really works.  Although we used it last winter it turns out we should have used the convoluted night system instead of turning it off as the system is much more economic to run that switching it on and off like a conventional heating system.

I think I’ll leave all the heating engineering to MT.  It’s a boy thing.  As long as it’s toasty and warm when the chill really arrives I’ll be happy.