My Five Senses weekend – appearing here every Monday (for 1 week only, knowing me)!

Taste
Fresh figs are my new, sensuously favourite thing. I love how their sweetness is so subtle and hidden. I love the crunchiness of the seeds nestling beneath the mysterious, fleshy skin that gives way so easily beneath searching, penetrating teeth. Oh, and they also look good in a photo!

Smell
Bonfires. Am I the only one who loves the way they alert the all our primeval senses as fire must? Urgent. Pungent. Once we’ve established that peril is not imminent all that’s left is to savour the permeating charcoaliness of burning wood that can’t be escaped. Very autumnal. Of course if your nextdoor-but-one neighbour happens to be burning a rubber-backed lounge carpet on a Sunday afternoon then the romance of the whole situation is abated immediately in favour of shutting all the windows and lighting scented candles!

Touch
Wool is making itself part of my life again. My ancient, scratchy, wooly cardigan that has almost turned to felt (life is too short for hand-washing) has had its first outing! I may need to go clothes shopping, actually.

Hear
Dizzee Rascal. When I hear you perform I hear the beating heart of London and I love that.

See
On Sunday I lay back, looked up and watched V’s of ducks flying past me – flying through the sky. Arrows pointing towards the beckoning warmth and sunshine that is fading from England, fading now into misty, orange autumn.