Autumn has arrived, Lucy's favourite season. For Mike and Belka's hikes that typically means mist in the valley, snow on the higher slopes and sunshine at the summit. On Saturday they slept on the summit of the Hirschhörnlkopf in the Jachenau region. Actually, it was a fitful sleep, as Belka decided to join Mike in his bivvy bag. There isn't much space in it for Mike let alone furry pets, but they managed somehow. Belka was, however, quite exhausted all day yesterday.

Here in Krailling, autumn means colourful trees, and lots of leaves to fish out of the pond and sweep up in the garden. Today is Halloween, so we have stocked up on sweeties to dole out to the many children in the area as soon as darkness falls. The pumpkin on our doorstep has only just held out: it has a wound that has seeped pumpkin juice everywhere. Yuck.