red leaves and Rania

Having friends to stay is the best of life, especially when it includes my beautiful god-daughter. We went for a long autumn walk to the nearby weir and I gathered some of natures bounty or some dry twigs, depending how you view these things.

My autumn display may have been much maligned, but Chris' pumpkin carving received universal praise.

Isn't she lovely?

the great pumpkins

Jacket potatoes, veggie and meaty chilli, followed by pumpkin carving with Phil, Paul, Tom, & Barny in situ and the lovely Robin via Skype. The boys came up with the best pumpkin faces, but given that they're all designers and illustrators, that's kinda cheating. Sneaky whittlers.