Yesterday, in the Abbey Gardens, I saw the men with leaf blowers, and the machine with the leaf blowing attachment, blowing all the leaves into a trail that could be gathered up.

It seems almost like a harvest but there is really no end result –  leaves are composted and cannot really be called a harvest. They need clearing away.

When I was young we raked up leaves to burn on the November 5th Bonfire and that marked for me an important turning point of the year.

Morris Men and Maypole dancers welcome in the spring but are absent at this time of year.

Instead we remember Guy Fawkes with fireworks and have Remembrance Day parades. Such ceremonies fit in better with the fallen leaves. The fallen leaves do bring with them a sense of loss.

This coming weekend will be the annual Quasimodo Fair in our twin town, Argentan, and as every year a couple of people from the twinning society, and a couple of civic guests, are going across. This year Ann Dodd – pictured with Peter – will be one of the twinning society members. Unfortunately she will miss the bun throw on Friday as a consequence.

The Bun Throw will be at 6.00pm on Friday 29th April – a few hours after the Royal Wedding proper. There will be an essential safety briefing for councillors, freemen, and the raffle winner, a little while before the throw. Buns will be thrown from the scaffolding just below the level of the roof.