In case you needed reminding, here in the UK at least, summer obviously decided to give us a miss this year. I always (irrationally, I know) blame the weatherman - and of course, you shouldn't shoot the messenger, but anyway - at After Noah, with hopes of a September Indian summer fading, we've decided that it's time to move on to thoughts of autumn.

Baskets and blankets…

Late blooming roses are still bringing life and colour to our gardens and parks, but there's a slight chill beginning to permeate the air in the early evening.

There are still blackberries on bushes to be picked and made into jam, or eaten straightaway in a yummy crumble and flowers to be picked and dried or pressed.

The bees are still as busy as ever and we're at that tipping-point between summer and autumn when you can still find things to do outside too, so make the most of it. You can go apple picking, fly a kite, collect conkers & pine cones - and there's still time to grab a blanket, a book and bottle of wine and relax a little, even if you do need a pair of DMs, a cardy or a blanket.