A frosty start.

Today started early. 6am, to be precise when Brinkley woke me to let him outside. Normally, I go out into the garden with him to make sure there's nothing that would start him barking and wake any of the neighbours who may be trying for a Sunday lie-in, or that no-one has tampered with the side gate that would leave Brinkley with a route for escape. Normally, I don't feel the chill in my warm, fleecy dressing gown.

But, this morning was different. This morning the wind was from the north, this morning it was frosty, this morning it was cold. Having checked everything was Ok, I left Brinkley and returned to the warmth of the kitchen.

By 10am we were all in Neil's car. Leather seats are cold on frosty mornings so we decided to make use of a special button on the dash board - it heats up the seats. Within a couple of minutes, there was a gentle heat spreading across my bum. It's an odd sensation, but quite nice on a frosty morning.

Today the temperature guage said 6 degrees, many of the trees are becoming bare at an alarming rate and we plough through large piles of discarded leaves as we wander through the park.

I love cold, frosty mornings. I love walking through the park, snuggled into my big coat and warm boots, watching the dogs explore every new smell that has appeared since their last visit.

I have added to my shopping list this week - a winter car pack for the frosty mornings that we will have many more of over the next few weeks.

On mornings like this, I feel as if I should miss the warm, autumnal Spanish mornings, but I don't.

Now, I wonder where my gloves are?