Autumn has finally arrived. No frosts yet but the trees are turning. One of the enjoyable aspects of the last twenty years or so is watching that the National Forest started to mature. With this maturity has come the joy of autumnal colour. Better than the old slag heaps and and pit yards they have replaced.

Talking of change a new town is springing to life in a way I never thought possible. It is a few months since I came this way. The once open fields with diggers in the distance are now show homes, a new school and an Aldi.

Before we start waxing lyrically about a lost pastured idle we should remember: This is the world where King Coal once ruled. The boundary of the new town is one of the earliest steam railways in the world. The reason for its construction was to transport coal to Leicester. The old site of South Leicester pit is just over a mile to west. All around the new town, sheds and distribution centres of the modern online world stand sentinel. They guard the brave new world we live in. Nonetheless it was a bit of a shock!

Footnote

Update on the Taylor Swift bump to my numbers. There was one very small and slight. So perhaps Ms Swift’s coattails don’t reach as far as this little blog. Are well. I’ve listened to the new album several times since I posted my post and I stand by my review: Perfectly good pop music. I’m sure Ms Swift won’t lose any sleep.