Early this morning Dad took a couple of my younger relatives and friends off to a Show. Which meant that Mum came up to feed us a little later. The clocks have all been put back one hour during the night, so it seems, and we had to wait longer before breakfast was served. Binny was pretty starving by the time the lid on the corn bin was lifted and for one of shall we say, more senior years, she swooped in and started gobbling frenetically! Some of my older buddies and I were also very happy to see the bright orange bucket swinging along and got stuck in to a tasty meal without further ado.

It is less chilly today. Although we had a frost last night, the cold wind has dropped and it is more clement.
Gail and Sheena have been telling us about the traditions associated with Halloween. Apparently they have been making Whooey things and Spookadoodley bits at school in preparation for Wednesday night. Gail excitedly recounted the old saying that 'Unmarried mothers who pulled cabbages blindfold on All Hallows Eve would be able to discern the looks of their future husband.'
To my mind this raised a few questions that I would have liked to have asked. But best to keep those thoughts to myself, I decided.
And Sheena told us 'That all journeys should finish before sunset on All Hallows; if this is not possible, then the traveller must carry a piece of bread on which salt has been sprinkled in the form of a cross.'
Again, I raised a querulous eyebrow, but decided to keep quiet lest I dampened their excited enthusiasm.
"And did you know, Uncle Gordon - In Lancashire - a far away county - groups of people carrying lights would walk the hills around midnight. If the flames burnt steadily, then the bearers were safe for the year; if they went out, then they were blown out by witches - a very bad omen." Giles looked triumphant. 
And when we looked at Baby White, who was hanging on their every word, his little eyes wide with terror - it had frankly scared the living daylights out of him! Gordon x

It happened. Yes. Hard to comprehend, I know. Mum turned up in her pink and white striped pyjamas bottoms, neatly tucked into her wellys. Luckily it was a fairly mild and foggy Monday morning last week and she scurried around scaring the living daylights out of us. I'm not sure that Siegfried will ever recover!
The rest of the week turned wet again -

so wet that the Pleut Extraordinaire is lying on top of the ground - seemingly unable to disappear. I feel I must add that Mum rooted through the darkest corners of her wardrobe and shook the spiders off some rather dodgy looking trousers - much to our great relief. And this morning is darned chilly - a very determined north-easterly wind is channelling doggedly through every nook and cranny. At least it is sunny and dry! We scooted around to try and keep warm, whilst enjoying foraging through the multitude of fallen leaves.

The path to Wattlebury School looks very autumnal. The Ash has relinquished her leaves - a beautiful lime green carpet. On top of those are the gold and yellow of the Beech and a few Oak leaves are reluctantly letting one or two of their precious green gown flutter to the ground. Dad has headed off to the Chicken Supermarket and he has a few jobs on his 'To Do' list for later. We do enjoy a Saturday! Love Sylvia and Gordon xxx

Bird reported later in the afternoon that the washing had been draped on every radiator, doorhandle and spare hanging post in Wattlebury Cottage. He was rather miffed to find a pair of socks on his cage and took to chomping on his millet in a defiant manner lest the socks should snaffle his supper. A few of the larger and very wet articles had been left in the garden and Harvey was stationed at the

window and instructed to watch the sky for the merest hint of Pleut. He was happy to oblige as Sammie Squirrel often plays by the bird table, so it wasn't too much of a trouble for him. And every so often a Phillip or Phillippa Pheasant stray in for a peanut or two. No, Harvey definitely didn't mind being on guard. But unfortunately whilst spying on Sammie's antics in the butterfly tree, Harvey didn't notice that it had once again started raining heavily. So the outside garments were back to square one and it was going to be a real problem for the family tomorrow morning. Dad had run out of trousers, Mum had run out of trousers and socks and Kizzie had no work clothes. They could wear their pyjamas --- Don't be ridiculous Bird! They're not that silly! Although--? Gordon xxx

The Great Battle of Autumn has commenced! Although the trees are on the whole still well clothed and green - probably due to the very wet spring, the days are fast drawing in and the evenings getting chillier. The crops are harvested and the fields are ploughed. We enjoyed a few lovely weeks during the Summer Holidays with great activity on the farm. The young pullets and cockerels enthusiastically hurled themselves around in Olympic style - and as our wise friend, Mandy, rightly said - plenty of perch bars beamwork! Mum and Dad have been busy on our little farm and now we are looking forward to seeing this year's youngsters learn new skills at school, whilst the oldest are preparing for a few Shows!