Home (otherwise known as Holiday Three)

Holiday Three is proving to be quite jolly so far. We're treating our local area a little like we would treat a new holiday place - pottering around the charity shops, having tea and toast in a cafe (what do you mean that's what we'd normally be doing at the weekend anyway??)

This morning we went to the local Country Market, which we used to do every week and haven't done for months. I like the country market, they sell home made cakes, jam, bread, even home made ready meals, crafty things and plants, and you can sit and have a cup of tea with your cake. We went to the equivalent market in Holmfirth last weekend, and it was full to the brim of (mostly older) people eating bacon butties and cakes. Our market doesn't do bacon butties, and also isn't in a tourist hotspot, and this week was strangely empty. 

Usually there's a bit of jostling for seats, but today we had our pick and had a leisurely cup of tea and a read of the local paper. 

After ambling home, I decided we couldn't possibly sit inside on such a sunny day (and there was the distinct danger I'd start thinking about washing, or DIY, and this is supposed to be a holiday after all), so we rustled up a simple picnic and headed for the hills. 

It was most pleasant eating our picnic out in the fields, even if we were just ten minutes walk from home, but the sun kept disappearing behind a cloud and after an hour or so we were feeling distinctly chilly. 

We contemplated popping to a cafe on the way home, but fortunately we were hailed in the street by some friends who invited us in for tea and blueberry muffins. 

Of course, as soon as we got home the sun came out again, so I gathered tea, books and blankets (not trusting those clouds after this morning) and sat out in the garden, trying to ignore the straggly pots and dying plants. 

I do like the way the sunlight dapples through the willow, although I suspect I'm going to have to have a lopping session soon. 

What's this on the ground though? Dead leaves - already? I'm blaming this on a lack of water while we were away, but I suspect autumn might not be quite as far away as I'd like it to be...