The sudden onset of Autumn

We've spent the first summer here in our new house and although we knew we were enjoying it at the time, this morning, we realised again just how lovely it was to have a garden with a little pool and a nice cool house to escape the fierce Andalucian sun. Today, for the third day in a row, we have woken up to fog and low clouds creeping over the surrounding hilltops and in addition to the general dampness this creates, this morning we have had quite a heavy rainfall. The children have gone off to school in sensible footwear and raincoats - though Mateo chose to take an umbrella rather than a coat. I suspect we might not see that one again unless it's still raining at 3pm...it's hereditary, I always leave umbrellas around.

I don't mind too much - as Janice said before she arrived, she wasn't coming for the weather, she was coming to see me. However, my mum arrives tomorrow evening and I really want it to be pleasant weather for her. I know it's been a lovely summer in England this year and that she too is coming to see me and the children first and foremost, but really - she should be able to expect a little (heart) warming sunshine too. Last night, we lit our wood-burning stove, we'd been so damp and chilly all day. (Later on, we wished we hadn't as it did get a tad too hot!)

I am so hoping that these clouds will drop what they have to and then move on. I am so looking forward to Mum's visit - her second this year - and this time, as I'm not teaching in the afternoons, we will have the opportunity to perhaps visit Cordoba or one or two other lovely places a little further afield. That is, if I can prise her out of the garden!

And as the weather has turned chilly, my thoughts are turning to chocolate. I don't mind the cooler weather and shorter days at all really - it is 'making' time! I have an order currently making its way back from the UK. There are a couple of people around here who make their living by tripping backwards and forwards to the UK taking and collecting things for people, so as it works out cheaper and easier than any other option, I shall have all my usual stock here within the week! 

It really doesn't seem a moment since we were fending off the strong Andalucian sunshine and taking full advantage of the splash pool and enjoying long, long days....and I was eagerly counting the weeks, then the days until Janice arrived. And whoosh!! All good fun whilst it lasted but suddenly, she's been and gone. Gosh, is all I can say!! Thank goodness for blogging as it will be such fun to piece it all together again and see it from the outside too - making something tangible from our shared memories of the few days we had together. I am looking forward to that.

And now, I'm looking forward to tomorrow evening and hoping time doesn't rush by quite so quickly, though she's staying a bit longer that Janice and Mark did. Plus, I have a little surprise for her at the end of her time here - but hush, don't say a word just yet!

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods. Are you all mellow fruitfulness, or just damp and chilly - or are you gearing up to summer and sunshine?

(Fingers crossed my camera will be fixed very soon! Can't bear not being able to share photos!)

Have a misty old olive tree taken from Wikipedia for now...getting ready for harvest by the looks of it.