It's all part of my autumn almanac

• When the vegetable stall appears at the Farmers' Market, you know it's autumn: the farm doesn't produce any summer vegetables, but once summer is over the couple appear with their muddy celeriac, and their wonderful tasty carrots. In less goof news from the Farmers' Market, the man from whom I buy my beef tells me he plans to retire at the end of the year. I will miss him.



• The swimming pool has reopened after being closed all summer for repairs. It's good to be back: we've been swimming in Chester-le-Street, but Durham pool is not only nearer,it has practical advantages: the changing rooms don't get so wet underfoot, they don't play the radio, the pool is bigger and brighter. There's a big picture window at the deep end, looking out onto trees, which is always a joy but particularly at this time of year. As I swam this afternoon the foliage faded from flaming gold to rusty embers, until the trees were darker than the sky beyond, and it was time to go.



• The six geese who live on the mud bank under Pennyferry Bridge are still there. "They're not a-laying, though," says durham_rambler, and they don't seem to have any young this year. But given all the building work in progress on either side of the river, I'm just pleased to see that they are still there.



• This was our first visit to the pool since last Monday. We aim to swim twice a week, but it can be quite a challenge to fit it in to durham_rambler's schedule. Last week he spent three days at the Examination in Public on the County Plan, which has been so long in preparation I can hardly believe it's really happening.



• Also long-awaited, the work at the station is now complete, and the underpass to the far (northbound) platform has reopened to traffic. During the work, access was on foot only, and by a longer, more up-and-down route. So it's goof to be back to normal. But despite all the work they've been doing with the shiny purple panels and the big colour photographs, it's still a long dark underpass under the railway line.