For only the third time in a year, next week’s post, which is usually scheduled for 7am UK time, will be a couple of days late. I am in Italy and there is little phone reception where I am staying, so I will bow to the local electromagnetic gods and postpone writing and posting until I am back in Blighty. Apologies to subscribers who’ve told me they listen to my post on the school run or way to work! Greetings from near Roma, where autumn suddenly arrived over night with an electrical storm! Photo: oak galls, gathered here this week.