Turning leaves

I've been thinking a lot this last week about balancing slow living with a fast-paced job, and have been thinking of ways to slow down at work. I'll be testing all the things on my list and sharing them with you, of course!

Absolutely number one has to be taking a real break at lunchtime. Like too many people, I eat lunch at work most days - either at my desk or in the lunchroom. While chatting with colleagues is good, too often I snatch a brief sandwich and dash back to my emails. Today I finally managed something I've been trying to do all week - I escaped to the park to jump up and down in a pile of dead leaves. Made me feel four again.

I took my camera so I could share the gorgeous colours with you. How does nature do it? Match the colours of the dying leaves to the pumpkin and butternut squash and other things in season?

The holly was covered in berries. I don't know how true it is but I was told that lots of berries is a sign of a very cold winter to come. I have no idea if there is any truth in that!

I love the colours that leaves turn at this time of year. I always think that it's at this time that you see the soul of the leaves - their true colours, underneath the veneer of the chlorophyll. It reminds me of Dylan Thomas's poem Do not go gentle into that good night - these leaves blaze and rage as they die, more glorious and more vibrant in their last stage before they fall and become mulch.