The first proper autumnal rain has fallen and Cairo woke up to a drop in temperature. And even if the sun still shines and the temperature is balmy during the day, the evenings and early mornings have a chill to them that warns of worse to come.

The time to get out the sweatshirts, find your socks and file your shibshib away till next year is getting closer and many of us suddenly crave foods that are warm and comforting. Such as soup.

Luckily Halloween did not get them all; piles of pumpkins are waiting to be turned into delicious soup.