Favourite tree

In response to a comment I made in my Thursday blip, Sydney wondered what my favourite tree on the Knott was. It's this one, the beech with the massive rootplate next to the bridleway as we descend the Knott to Silverdale Rd and Arnside Tower. I know this is skylark54's favourite tree too. And let's not forget Gus, this is his favourite as well, good as it is for a couple of gravy bones if he leaps on and off the rootplate. As we approach it, he runs on ahead to get in position with something of a Pavlov's dog reaction. Although there is a good carpet of coppery leaves, the tree is not in its full glory yet, so we may come back, particularly if there is a layer of Autumn mist lapping the skirt of the hill.

Otherwise, we have been enjoying what our postman described as the calm before the storm. Grey and overcast it was, and mild again with rain at the end of the day. Ideal weather for more tidying up work in the garden. Hopefully it will be late when the storm arrives tomorrow. Since the huge storm of 1987 and Michael Fish's casual dismissal of talk of a hurricane the evening before, the BBC weather forecasters have taken a precautionary approach, leading us to expect the worst. We shall see.