Ten years ago I had just turned 40. Phil had booked a trip to New York, my favourite city, to celebrate. We were due to fly out on 20th September.

11th September 2001 was a beautiful early autumn day in Helsby. I was home from work as a local handyman was replacing spindles on our staircase. Suddenly I got a phone call from Phil telling me to switch on the news as a plane had just flown into the Twin Towers. At that time we assumed it was a terrible accident. I put on the news and .....well, we all know the rest.

I have been back to the city twice since then. It is still one of my favourite places on earth. I don't know why but I have always felt very much at home there.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of NYC and with Americans everywhere on this ten year anniversary. God bless you all. From my heart.

SPIDERS
I just remembered what I hate about autumn. It's the way the HUGE spiders come in looking for mates. I wish they wouldn't. We have had two enormous ones in the kitchen this evening alone.

It's now a year since my lovely mother in law June passed away. Already she has missed so much. And we miss her every day.

I miss our long chats and all her support.

Kate is off to university in Aberystwyth soon. Another big change that I'm not at all ready for! Last weekend we talk her round IKEA buying stuff for her new life. That was so weird! I am really excited as she is getting to experience something neither her dad nor I did - going away to uni as we both stayed at home whilst studying. But I am really going to miss her.
My new job is still crazy and still stressful. On the plus side I'm really enjoying riding again after a bit of a break for summer holidays etc.

We have a wedding coming up that I'm really looking forward to as the couple are a lot of fun and real personalities. I'll still be nervous of course.

So summer such as it was is officially over and already the nights are drawing in. I quite like this time of year ......