October can be a bit of a limbo month. Summer is still hanging on in there in the memory bank, while Christmas is just about peaking its yuletide promise over the horizon. But there is more to autumn than simply a ‘going through the motions’ transition from sunshine to Santa; it has its own special points of order to be welcomed. Apart from grabbing ‘summer sale’ sale bargains down the high street (yes, some shops still remain), it offers the opportunity to try and test your new winter clobber, put away the barbecue (thank goodness for that) and start making hot chocolate, lighting a fire and snuggling up in front of Strictly Come Dancing. Yes, I do watch that, avidly.