THIS AUTUMN FEELING

The changing colours, the bright crispness, being enveloped in wool, getting cold on long walks, coming inside to find warmth. The last week or so has been picture perfect October, the dark starts and foggy breath made better by the promise of sunshine, the days so clear that if you find just the right bench, out of the wind, you can sit outside and breathe Autumn in. On Saturday we sat in Princes Street Gardens, and on Sunday, while I fed waffles, bacon and maple syrup to friends, Chris walked to the Gallery of Modern Art with Euan and they sat outside for as long as they could. Later I walked across town to meet them, the sun in my eyes.

But all week we watched the forecast, the forecast that said yes it's sunny and bright and cold and perfect but don't get too comfortable just wait until Thursday, on Thursday it will RAIN. It held out until just after lunchtime and then it rained, and it rained, and it rained. I had taken my swimming costume to work but as I left I realised that I didn't want to go swimming, I just wanted to be at home. I wanted to turn the heating on, to make dinner, to bake a cake, to paint my nails dark blue and that, all of it, is what I did.

A couple of weeks ago I roasted a butternut squash with thyme, toasted some hazelnuts in a small pan, and threw it all into some couscous with goats' cheese for a quick meal. Last night I did the same, just with pasta and pecorino instead. Next time I think there will be big pasta shells, filled with squash, thyme and nuts, topped with crumbled goats' cheese...