This afternoon, as is my wont, I travelled into the City to meet Tigger from work. Before setting out, I checked the two weather forecast apps on my phone and what I saw there had me rummaging in the wardrobe for my winter coat.

On the way home, we had two waits for buses during which I was duly glad for my wise decision to wear a warm coat. On reaching home, I screen-grabbed the display of one of the weather apps.

As you can see, the thermometer is down to 11°C (that’s about 52°F) which I consider distinctly chilly. Admittedly, it was a couple of degrees warmer during the day but that’s hardly a consolation.

Over the last few days we have been lashed by the tail-end of Hurricane Lorenzo which has brought heavy rain leading to flooding in some parts. Winter, it seems, is taking revenge for the unusual heat waves we were experiencing just a few weeks ago.

During the heat, I found myself almost wishing for colder weather though I knew that really I hate the cold and do not react well to it. I sometimes wish I were a bear so as to be able to sleep through it till spring returns.

We have noticed that the trees and shrubs have produced abundant crops of berries this year which, according to some, presages a harsh winter. I do not know whether this is right but we shall see soon enough, I expect.

Entirely unrelated to this, I was intrigued to hear that astronomers who have been trying to determine the nature of the mysterious ninth planet that is thought to circle the sun in the distant suburbs of the solar system now suspect that it may in fact not be a planet but a black hole.

If they are right then I sincerely hope it is in a stable orbit because if it were to stray inwards towards the sun it could gobble up a planet like ours and still be ready for seconds.

Something to take our minds off Brexit if only for a moment or two…