Punk Thistles...

...seen on a walk from our house.  That these thistles have reached this punk stage means autumn is definitely here.
Later in the day there were a couple more signs of autumn. I was in the garden picking black currants when I realised it was going dark, and that as I picked my hands were getting really cold. Soon I could hardly see the berries, and I could hardly feel with my frozen fingers! Cold and dark - summer is gone!
Today's backblip of Siena Cathedral, from a week ago,