Rain

Last night's rain was heavy and prolonged enough to turn the plantation ditches which have been dry for months into small but....

....raging little torrents, to the extent that we had to take some considerable care in crossing them. 

We mustn't complain about the rain - not yet anyway - as we've spent weeks moaning about how much we've needed it.

The slugs and snails are thoroughly enjoying the change and taking the opportunity the damp weather to attack the fungi with a vengeance. It was promising to be a good year for fungi but....

....the caps hardly appear above ground before the wretched molluscs have....

....had a go at them.

Some they don't touch. These blackening waxcaps come up in the same place every year but are never eaten. They have other problems, particularly the men from the council who come round regularly to strim the area of lawn where they're attempting to grow.

Nor do they seem to bother these beautifully delicate little caps growing on a pine log. Perhaps the resin puts them off.

So, with the rain and the fungi and the slugs and the now-vacant....

....fenceposts where, just a few days ago, the swallows rested, it really does feel like autumn.