A mild Halloween is not that unusual!

It is being reported that this is a record-beating mild Halloween.

But a mild Halloween is not that unusual.

Last year it was mild into November - I noted it particularly as I was on a white water kayaking course where I couldn't wear gloves as I was afraid of losing them when I came out in a stopper. And I was capsizing and "swimming" several times a session.

In my perpetual calendar I've noted in 2013 and 2010 a Halloween paddle (this would have been after it had got dark) where I wasn't wearing gloves or a hat. These are the only 2 Halloween paddles I've been on, so there could easily have been other mild Halloweens I hadn't particularly noted.

Paddling does make me very aware of the weather. There are often weekends where I would have thought it had rained all weekend if I hadn't been paddling in the dry, and sometimes even the sunshine, whatever the weather the rest of the time!

Making the most of February sunshine

I washed some jumpers today and hung them to dry outside. While they were in the machine I cut away my neighbour's clematis that was covering my wisteria and pruned the autumn raspberries.

I then did the "Limehouse Loop", the longest bike journey I do on my own, about 14 miles. As I was leaving late morning there were more walkers/joggers/cyclists than if I had left earlier but, considering what a wonderful day it was, I would have expected more people. Every now and then a bush or tree covered with small white flowers.

Back home, after a quick lunch, I was out in the garden again with the stepladder cutting back as much of the clematis climbing over my shed as I could reach. I also did a bit of weeding.

I saw a bumble bee.

This warm February weather is not unusual. In my perpetual diary I noted two days before this time last year that it was so warm I went to the post office without wearing a coat.