I ordered more firewood this morning to see us through winter. The wood pile has been steadily diminishing as we have the fire on all day lately with this cold, and now wet, weather. We have to keep Felix warm, after all.

The rain isn’t of apocalyptic proportions as it is in other parts of the country, thankfully. The garden plants must appreciate it after a long, dry period. There is broccoli and rainbow chard to pick for dinner, and loads of lemons for my winter-cold, throat-soothing drinks (with fresh ginger and manuka honey).

Inside, Felix looks content in his fire-side chair (although he is surely uncomfortable holding out from using his litter tray), while we are transported to the other side of the world and other times by our books, and a batch of home-made chocolate-chip biscuits further lifts our spirits.