The Sunday cycle

Every Sunday, unless it's a koopzondag, the shops are closed and our little town is very quiet. Provided it isn't raining or snowing, we almost always go cycling on Sunday afternoons. The great thing about living here is that we're surrounded by cycle lanes. We can go anywhere - safely! - by bike. It's great to explore where we live on two wheels, especially as we get to see things that would be impossible to spy if we'd be in the car.

Our Sunday cycle never fails to put me in a great mood. Except for today as my back tyre was flat! I did voice my concern about the tyre needing to be pumped up before we left the house but DAAN someone told me it was fine. It wasn't. Not that long into our journey, I knew it was too flat to be cycling on and our journey was cut short. I just hope it isn't punctured.

Here are a few snaps of what we spotted during our short expedition today:

The corn has been cut down or is completely dried out. Another one of those signs that summer is over.

I've noticed a lot of these lately. I suspect they are destined to become Christmas trees.

Aaah, lots of greenery. You wouldn't get to see this from the car!

Never far from water (of course!)

Autumn has arrived.

This is my second autumn in the Netherlands and it definitely arrives all of a sudden! Back in England it seemed to stay milder for much longer at this time of year. I remember going back to London last Christmas and it felt positively tropical compared to here. Last Monday it was a great day and the next morning....HELLO! It's autumn! The last few mornings it was certainly chilly and people are suddenly wearing jackets and jumpers. I think we'll still have some good weather this month. I do hope this is not the end of the pleasant weather. I am really dreading the autumn arriving as last winter was so cold.

Change is in the air.....

• We have put away the garden furniture.
• My sandals and skirts are back in the wardrobe until next year.
• I have resorted to wearing slippers some evenings.
• It's a bit chilly when we wake up in the morning and we have swapped our summer blanket for a warmer one.
• Piles of leaves have been spotted.
• The days are noticeably shorter.
• Coats and scarves are now on show in lots of shop windows.
• Nobody was sitting outside on the terraces when we went out for drinks on Friday night.
• Our neighbours no longer sit outside. This is a good thing.
• Definite decrease in the number of bugs. This is also a good thing.
• Kruidnoten and other Sinterklaas foods have appeared in the supermarket.