10 things I love about autumn
Hello autumn
September is here. The month that brings with it the first whiff of a morning chill in the air. Evening light receding. Roads full again after the long summer break. Pristine uniforms, sharpened pencils and squeaky new shoes.
Every season promises its own pleasures. The cosy homes and crunchy chill of winter; the promise of new unfurlings in spring; the indolent heat of summer. As for autumn, these are the things I especially love about the arrival of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.
Autumn love number 1 - less body maintenance
As much as I love the feel of the sun on my skin, and being able to shed warming layers in favour of getting my legs and arms out, I’m equally thrilled to be able to dial back on the endless shaving, exfoliating and tinted moisturising/fake tanning (please share your secret if you manage to achieve even coverage on your legs). Welcome back long trousers and sleeves.
Autumn love number 2 - ditto feet
Let’s be honest, there are few feet that are genuinely pretty to look at. And if yours are becoming ever less lovely, and more alarmingly troll-like with age, the effort of making them look vaguely presentable and finding comfortable, open shoes that cover enough of the bits that mean people are less likely to look away in horror at the sight of them, is positively exhausting. Autumn means being able to wear sneakers without the sweat. Hurrah.
Autumn love number 3 - goodbye sweating, hello snuggling
And talking of sweat, our ever hotter summers mean there seems to be more of that to be managed. As someone who does their best to keep their face out of the sun via a selection of protective hats, my main sweat spot is my head (apologies if that’s TMI). And a sweaty head equals the dreaded frizzy hair, which for extra attractiveness gets flattened to my damp head by the culprit hat. Delightful. It’s a relief to be rid of all that unwanted moisture. And not to be constantly kicking off the bedclothes at night, and happily snuggling under them instead.
Autumn love number 4 - momentarily relieved plants
It may have been a glorious summer for us, but the long stretches of dry, hot sun have been hard work for our poor plants and trees. The welcome arrival of cooler temperatures and much needed rain are a happy respite for our vegetation, shortly before it starts the business of furling and shedding in preparation for winter.
Autumn love number 5 - falling leaves
Autumn weather means being relieved of plant watering duties in the garden and replacing that with the business of leaf raking and sweeping. It can get a bit tedious, but who doesn’t love a pile of fallen leaves to swoosh through? And is there any sight more glorious than the auburn leaves on and surrounding a tree on a clear, crisp sunny autumn day? Answers: no-one and no, surely.
Autumn love number 6 - great TV
The Great British Bake Off, Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Traitors, the new series of Slow Horses and the much anticipated second series of Nobody Wants This. Sooooo many top-notch small screen gems to enjoy and look forward to. So many excuses not to leave the sofa. THIS is a useful list of some of the others
Autumn love number 7 - and decent films
If I am going to extricate myself from the sofa, it’ll be to head to the cinema. Sitting inside in the dark on a summer evening holds considerably less appeal than on an autumn one. And especially as the run of family friendly film fodder (oh I did enjoy that blockbuster alliteration) has been replaced with some promisingly juicy-sounding big screen offerings. The Roses with Benedict Cumberpatch and Olivia Coleman, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell and Downton Abbey, The Grand Finale are at the top of my list.
Autumn love number 8 - back to school
It doesn’t matter how many years, or, ahem, decades, it’s been since you left school or further education for the last time, September is always the month that means the start of a new term (see introduction above) and a time of new beginnings. HERE are more of my reflections on that.
Autumn love number 9 - hot baths and hot soup
Enough of the outside heat, it’s time for indoor warmth. A deep-filled bubble bath on a chilly evening can only be topped by a bowl of warming, home-made soup before or after (I wouldn’t recommend during, but I fully accept not everyone is as clumsy as me). I’m looking forward to discovering new recipes and favourites.
Autumn love number 10 - its OK to start looking forward to Christmas
I’m unfailingly appalled when I see shops unveiling their Christmas departments, sections or shelves whilst we’re still all stocking up on sun screen. My daughter, who is as big a Christmas fan as I am, believes it should be illegal to sell any Christmas wares in shops, or to discuss the festive season until after Bonfire Night. I’m happy to see the change of season as the trigger for Christmas anticipation. Which camp are you in?
Are your favourite autumn delights on that list? If not, please do add them below in the comments. I’m off to dig out my scarf collection.
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