I smell winter - and something tells me its good goodbye summer...

The house is surrounded by weaving and dipping House Martins.  Every window I look out through they are there, dozens of them flying, swooping and catching insects.  Our house (and most surrounding buildings) has several nests all securely tucked under the eaves, we had thought they may be for swallows but instead have been hugely populated by sleek little House Martins.   The bird table gets regular visits from lots of little brown jobbies and various species of tits. The field opposite has been harvested and is now home to a large flock of lapwings who seem to be enjoying what ever the barley has left behind.  Yesterday there were half a dozen detectorists slowly wandering up down yielding metal detectors and spades - no great shouts or gold dances but clearly a methodical evening looking for treasure.  Yes its all happening here in the depths of  wild County Durham!!!!  The sun has very definitely withdrawn but the view is of deep brooding clouds and can only be described as atmospheric.  Its quite hypnotic actually and leaves me sat in bed drinking tea watching and watching as if something momentous is going to happen but instead its just more gentle scudding clouds.  Very restful and relaxing... 

Far too often wet stuff falls from the sky - useful I am told but I'm not enamored - it doesn't take long for me to become disillusioned with the British weather although I do realise this is what make our country such a beautiful green and pleasant land - so I shouldn't complain... but I do... maybe its slight pessimistic to be smelling winter but the nights are undoubtedly drawing in, its inevitable - bring it on I say,  but first we need to make the most of whats left of this glorious summer.