Keeping warm

It's been amusing in the last few days. I'm talking about the way this house has responded to the changing weatherover the last week.

Cat J has climbed into bed with me every night because of how cold it has been. I put a second duvet on the bed as well as wearing socks. I'm determined not to put the heating up; it's bothering me that I had to put it on at all, so it's set to about 18C; and if that's still not warm enough, more clothes and warm drinks. O and J both are less keen to go outside now. It may be due to their age as much as anything else, they used to happily go outside in all except subzero conditions. It isn't that cold, but the cats are keen to stay in.

I repaired the magnetic closer on the catflap today. O and J had managed to pull it off completely a few weeks ago, and while it was warm out that was fine, but now its getting cold (and frosty in places) its not so good.

I'll be making chicken soup later today for my lunches for the next week. I happen to particularly like it as it's filling and warning and it's half an afternoon of cooking followed by 3 minute microwaving sessions daily per portion - added to which, O and J love chicken skin! (warm house occurrence alert!)

I also need to get some laundry done in spite of the fact that there is going to be torrential rain later today and overnight. Also, I need to shuffle the living room around so that the television has a proper place to live, particularly as the people are coming from Virgin to "plumb it in" so to speak.

I'm looking out of the window while I drink my tea, and noticing the colour of the silver birches in the hedge. They are stunning, all that colour. Add the rising wind, and there is something of a blizzard of dried leaves going around outside. Musing a little here, I think I love autumn and winter better than spring and summer. The scent, the colour, the changing temperature, the challenge of dealing with the changing weather; I love it all.