Sunday 5 November
People put pumpkins outside their doors for Halloween here, but not carved Jack-o’Lanterns. Not surprisingly, they don’t celebrate today, but neither have there been any fireworks for Diwali. In fact, we are in an incredibly peaceful spot, where people go for Sunday morning jogs, walk the dog, feed the flocks of coots and sail traditional dinghies. My crew were glad to stay tucked in, warm and snug, as a weather system passed over, dumping rain, hail and a very brief thunderstorm.