There's a different smell in the air, the mornings are different.....cooler and bringing the promise of Autumn.
Don't get me wrong, I love Autumn as a season, but it's what lies beyond that...the dark nights and diminished days of winter, that I loathe.
What I always miss about summer are the long light nights....and that's something my friends Laura, Susie and I have been making the most of over the last few months.
Most Friday nights we meet at the local pub..in winter we sit by the fire with a bottle of wine...sometimes more...and we catch up on what's happened, what's going on. We meet early..sixish if we can, , and are usually home by eightish.
It's very civilised...in good weather , we've sat in the pub's little garden with a bottle and an ice bucket....but as the summer temperatures increased, we decided to meet up in each others gardens and really enjoy our summer evenings.
We started off in June with bottles of wine and a few nibbles..as the nights became longer, our appetites grew larger , we progressed to Pimms ,crudités, hummous...
to prosecco, bread and cheese, grapes....
to sloe gin cocktails, olives, salads
to jugs of mojitos, homemade dips ...and the only evening we sat inside because it was too breezy but with the French doors open....
back to wine.....and as summer has progressed, we've laughed and gossiped our way through the wines , spirits , snacks and canapes of many of our favourite countries. When I say gossiped though...that's not strictly true. The three of us talk about anything from history, news and current affairs, psychology, films, gardening, food...and oh alright, they may be the odd moment when we discuss the latest gossip.
It's been such good fun....and I think I can safely say...it's something we'll be repeating next year.....
In the soundtrack to my summer though, one band has featured prominently...Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo.....if you get the chance to see them, do! They are great live, the girls switching between instruments...but held together by Emily's beautiful and evocative voice. They headlined the marquee stage at this year's Simon Says festival in Leicester in July where I was compering...and it was such a pleasure to stand and watch from the side of the stage and appreciate just how enjoyably good they are.
Here's "Ghost Narrative"
