There is a moment in October when the evening seems to arrive all at once. A walk that began in soft afternoon light ends beneath a blue-grey sky, and the windows of honey-coloured cottages begin to glow along the lane.

The first fire of autumn changes a room. There is the small crackle as the wood catches, the shifting light across the hearth, and the gradual warmth that draws everyone towards the same chairs.

For all the pleasure of cosy evenings, October mornings deserve a little attention too. On a clear day, the light catches dew along the garden wall.