M25

We seem to be fortunate in our direction of travel between Cheddington and London. Up to Cheddington on Wednesday night, and the traffic along the M40, M25 and A41 has been kind so far, but with the occasional jam in the opposite direction. The same is the case for the journey on Sunday night. Last night, for example, going north on the M25 (clockwise) the traffic was moving at a snail's pace from the junction of the M40 right up and beyond the turn off to Aylesbury. Where had all the traffic come from, and why was it all going in a northerly direction?

The same on the M40 and Western Avenue. Solid in places, yet where there is always slow traffic from Paddington up to the roadworks past St Kats, nothing. It would have been a long journey indeed and very slow and frustrating if we travelled in the reverse direction - but we don't.

Maybe it was the end of the holidays; schools return later this week; and even the Met Office has declared today meteorologically the first day of Autumn. But the sun is out and shining through the office doors here on the first floor, and the chairs on the patio outside are pearly white - battered by all the rain - no need for any cleaning this summer.