Autumn is my favourite time and year and Castle Bailey is becoming my favourite place to spend it. Don’t get me wrong, a wander along the banks of the River Seine, a drive through the New England forests, or a browse of the big London bookshops would be pretty good too and I’m still smiling when I think about my trip to Galway with Alex, but Castle Bailey has all the elements of the season I love the most.

The main street is planted with sycamore and silver birch trees and right now the leaves are turning to gold and falling to the ground beneath. The trees must have been planted before I was born, maybe even before my parents were born. They tower over the street and the county council send in tree surgeons each spring to trim back their branches and ensure they won’t drop on the bu...

Please subscribe to keep reading.