The wind is howling outside as I write, tearing down the valley towards the sea and throwing rain against the sides of the house. It’s been a relatively mild autumn, no real storms so far, but the past couple of days have hinted at a definite change in season. On a drive down the Sterridge Valley this afternoon, the trees looked magnificent, still with many leaves. No doubt, the wind will soon blow these away.

In the garden, some plants are still flowering from summer and autumn.

Hydrangea in Ilfracombe flowering in November

 Hydrangeas and fuchsias are still flowering . . .

Fuchsias flowering in Ilfracombe in November

These are quite sheltered so are protected from the winds . . .

Devon Dumpling fuchsias flowering in November in Ilfracombe

Look at these vibrant berries . . . I don’t know what the shrub is . . .

Autumn berries

And the heather is just starting to come into flower . . .

Heather coming into flower in November in Ilfracombe

We don’t seem to have had a summer this year, but there’s still much to enjoy throughout the other seasons.

It’s been a funny old year. We waited in expectation for the summer and now look back to when it should have been. The temperatures never seemed to get very high, although looking back over photos we did have some beautifully sunny days in May, June and July.

But somehow it’s easy to feel cheated. We didn’t get those long, lingering sunny evenings when it seems to take forever to get dark.

And here we are, just having put the clocks back, and taking the dogs out earlier so that they can get a good run in the daylight.

I’m not getting depressed though: I love autumn and winter. They bring a different beauty to spring and summer, so here’s looking to the enjoyment of different seasons.

PS Looking back over my photos this year, here is one of my favourites of Exmoor ponies, taken in March 2008.

Exmoor ponies photographed by Robert Zarywacz in March 2008

As we turn back the clocks for winter, in Ilfracombe many of the boats have been lifted out of the harbour on to the quay and harbour car parks to protect them from the ferocity of the stormy weather until next spring.

Boats lifted out of the harbour on to Ilfracombe quay

It’s also a sign that most of the holiday-makers have gone and the town is back in the hands of residents, who can enjoy its beauty in the winter months.

It’s not all peace and quiet though, as it’s the only time that many of those in the tourism industry have to enjoy themselves after spending the summer season working all hours of the day.

Ilfracombe quay in October 2008

It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the town and countryside, even when the sea and sky are grey, it’s raining and the wind is howling. Certainly beats the M25.

. . . home-grown apple is one of the delights of late summer and early autumn. We’ve got two small apple trees and this year they have borne more fruit than ever before.

Apples ripening in the sun

While an apple bought from a supermarket may be bigger, rounder, shinier and smoother than one straight off a tree that is bumpy, misshapen or smaller, it’s unlikely to offer the same full flavour.

Green apples on the tree

When you pick them, you know that these apples have not been sprayed with chemicals or transported by chiller van: they are fresh.

Greensleeve apples picked and eaten in September

They really don’t take much looking after, but their taste cannot be beaten.

It’s been a very wet and dull August here, which hasn’t helped our runner beans. We were late planting them out as we had to prepare our new vegetable plot.

Runner beans grown and eaten in Devon

But at long last our crop is ripening and picking has begun.

Runner beans growing in spite of a cold, wet August

Our first meal reminded us how delicious home-grown runner beans are: sweet, tender, not at all stringy. Where else can you find such wonderful vegetables?

Exquisite tasting beans

Only in your vegetable garden or plot.

Not something that we eat every day, but a wonderful occasional treat, especially when you can buy fresh cod or other white white fish and local potatoes (which have never seen the inside of a supermarket warehouse or articulated lorry). We buy Braunton potatoes, grown within 10 miles of Ilfracombe, from Norman’s independent greengrocer in Ilfracombe High Street.

Home-made fish cakes and chips with pickled onions

So simple to make too: mix the cooked white fish and mashed potato, adding salt, pepper and a few parsley leaves, then mould into a long roll. Slice the fish cakes, dip in beaten egg and coat with home-made breadcrumbs. We use the end slices of a loaf from our baker’s, The Pantry in Ilfracombe High Street, bake them in the oven and grind in a blender. 

The chips are also made from local potatoes, peeled and chopped thick.

Deep fry the fish cakes very hot for five minutes or until ready, then keep warm in the oven, while frying the chips for 15-20 minutes.

The fish cakes are deliciously light and fluffy inside and crisp on the outside. I eat mine with home-made pickled onions, but choose whatever accompaniment you prefer.

We chose a fruity Regatta from Stanlake Park, so refreshingly free of the chemical after-taste (and headaches) of mass produced wines, as the perfect white wine on this occasion.

A potentially dangerous meal if eaten too often and if you’re not careful when deep frying, but lovely to enjoy as a treat with common sense and an otherwise healthy diet.

A magical time, the evening . . .

The Torrs blazing at sunset in Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . when the sun blazes as it sinks behind the Tors into the sea . . .

A fiery sunset in Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . and on the seafront, the lights illuminate Capstone Hill . . .

Capstone Hill, Ilfracombe in summer twilight

. . . nothing else matters in the magic of light and dark.

Rescue Day in Ilfracombe, Devon on Wednesday 13th August is Britain’s biggest emergency services live charity display day, featuring:

Coastguard. Police Force. Fire Brigade. RAF 22 Squadron Rescue Helicopter. RNLI Lifeboat. Lifeguards. Exmoor Search and Rescue. Ambulance Service. Red Cross. Devon 4×4. National Blood Service. Devon Air Ambulance. Maritime Volunteer Services. North Devon Animal Ambulance. RNLI boating sea safety roadshow.

Meet the real-life professionals and learn what it takes to keep us safe. 

Live air-sea Rescues with RAF helicopter, RNLI lifeboats, Coastguard cliff rescue. Drugs dog. Huge chip-pan fire. Lifeguards jet-ski surf rescue. See the roof being cut off a car. Handheld flare demonstration. 75^th Mountain-rescue anniversary “Then and Now” enactment. Birds of Prey Display.

Read full details of Rescue Day at Ilfracombe Round Table web site.

What a glorious July day, just right for the first excursion of the pleasure steamer ‘Balmoral‘ from Ilfracombe.

There was quite a lot of activity out in the Bristol Channel: a grey warship . . .

The Balmoral passing a ship off Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . and a passing speedboat. There were also quite a few other boats in the harbour.

Speedboat passing Balmoral as she approaches Ilfracome quay, Devon

Eventually Balmoral docked to pick up passengers for its first cruise of the summer.

Blamoral docks at Ilfracombe quay, Devon

They certainly picked a fine day.

Just take a walk and see what you will find . . . up the steps from Hele Bay climbing Hillsborough . . .

Climbing the steps from Hele Bay up Hillsborough towards Ilfracombe

. . . the view from the top northeast towards Wales and Bristol . . .

Looking out over Hele Bay from Hillsborough, Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . up above bright blue and white . . .

Clouds, blues sky and sun in Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . out in the distance . . . more blue . . .

The serenity of Ilfracombe quay on Devon summer's day

. . . and boats . . .

Boating at Ilfracombe harbour and quay, Devon

. . . and beautifully clear water . . .

Clear waters off Larkstone Beach, Ilfracombe, Devon

. . . and neverending Sunday blues in Ilfracombe.

A good question. Many think of the town as well past its sell-by date with Victorian and Edwardian buildings crumbling, hotels closing down and shops looking shabby. Superficially, this is true.

But underneath it remains a fascinating town with much to offer. Yes, it has rowdy youths (where else in England doesn’t?), but it also has a very warm, strong community. The outer shabbiness of the High Street conceals some of the fine produce on offer: locally produced fruit and veg, meat, dairy products, bread and cakes, chocolate and sweets. 

And wherever you are in town you can look up to see the sea, beautiful hills or the ever-changing sky.

Wildersmouth Beach in Ilfracombe, Devon

It all depends on what you want in life, but if you’re sick of the brutal environments created by town planning in many parts of the country, it’s a breath of fresh air here.

The biggest challenge is preserving what’s good and regenerating what has decayed in a sympathetic manner that avoids the mistakes made in many other towns.

View of Ilfracombe harbour from Larkstone Beach

After a night of rain and storm, this morning was beautiful. The walk round the north side of Hillsborough revealed some atmospheric views as the sun struggled to break through the cloud.

Moody view east from Ilfracombe, Devon

Coming round the hill and looking towards the town, St Nicholas’s Chapel stood clearly above the harbour.

St Nicholas's Chapel, Ilfracombe, Devon

Truly a wonderful July Sunday morning, even if more rain is threatened.