Back to routine

I'm sure I've not done with the Namibia trip yet - there are still more photos to upload for a start. And things I've learnt from it will emerge as I look back on such an adventure.

But its most definitely autumn here. Coming back from sunny 30c plus to cool, wet and dark was quite a bump. I've been enjoying the sudden change in colours in the trees and the damp woodsmoke smell that's starting to hang around the village. We went for a walk to Batsford Arboretum near Morton-in-Marsh at the weekend as a family outing to really look at how Autumn is coming along

I'd missed cooking in the 2 weeks I was away. It was lovely having all meals prepared for you, but its not the same as being in the kitchen yourself. So I've been back in the kitchen cooking proper roasts and cakes. Learnt from Namibia - I'd forgotten how nice homemade biscuits are, so may well have a go at keeping the biscuit tin filled up myself. This was something I use to do - no idea why it lapsed actually

The boys coped very well without me but yesterday it was nice to put the house back to how I liked it. I deep polished the dining table til it shone and the house smelt all old fashioned. I scrubbed the kitchen floor and washed the cat beds and blankets.

Today the childrens' old beds were collected by a charity shop and once they were gone and off the landing, I could get in to and tidy the airing cupboard. I also cut up 2 old toweling dressing gowns they'd outgrown to make cleaning cloths and rags.

I've a delicious backlog of reading and catalogues that arrived whilst I was away so I've been getting in to those, and my thoughts are already turning to Christmas preparations and perhaps the things I can get a head start on making. I've loads of African animal photos I can turn in to a calender or two for a start....