Country Notes

Published on 25th October 2007 in News

When the clocks fall back this weekend we really will feel that we are into winter!

With dark nights, and damp and dismal days for the next few months!

To lighten the dullness, first we have Hallowe'en, with Jack 'o Lanterns and Trick or Treat.

Followed by Bonfire Night on November Fifth, with fireworks sparkling and brightening the skies.

But the smoke from the bonfires will, as usual, cause some rather bad weather conditions, like fog!

Growers have had a problem producing orange pumpkins for Hallowe'en.

Because of the bad summer the pumpkins have not ripened as quickly as they should, but the supermarkets are insisting that they are orange and so the growers are having to artificially ripen them.

But should we insist on an orange one or opt for a green one instead?

I really don't think it matters which colour they are, and it is only in recent years that we have been given the choice of pumpkins - it always used to be swedes.

Please remember the hedgehog at this time, they like to hibernate under stacks of wood etc, so before you light your bonfire please do check that you don't have a hedgehog hiding in there, otherwise there will be more than roasted potatoes in the bonfire!

Rosemary Roach