Autumn slowly loses its grip as the golden, red and pink tipped leaves of the trees fall more quickly from the trees in the park and those along the roads of Rietondale. It has been a special season. Though the leaves turned and fell, the steady rains have left Rietondale looking green and lush, so unusual for this time of year.
The cold does tend to show itself a degree or two lower here in our valley though and so minds turn to winter pursuits. It's the time for cuddling up with coffee or hot chocolate or Milo, and though for many this is done in front of the TV I cannot help but remember my childhood home, what I would call a ‘’Real old-fashioned Rietondale house’’. By that I mean the ever warm wooden flooring, the high pressed-steel ceilings and all importantly though now out of fashion, the coal burning anthracite fire. It took an age to heat and longer to clean but the golden glow that the family relaxed in before bed made it worth it. Certainly I thought so and so did all the family's animals! For there was a lovely thick Persian carpet on the floor. There are many kinds of heaters these days and all adept in their own ways but I have never been quite as warm as I was then. The only hard part was getting up and scooting to our rooms hoping to cling onto some of that warmth and take it with us to bed.
Once in bed I was treated again to the beautiful intricacies of the pressed-steel ceiling that I so loved to gaze up at whilst falling asleep. I have had the fortune to live in other houses and flats, now being grown up, but to such as those nights that I hark back to, I am most grateful to my Rietondale childhood.
