Winter is Coming

Well the weather in England has finally taken a turn and Summer is now well and truly over - and I reckon I'm the only person who doesn't actually mind. 

We had the most incredible Summer here and, whilst I do like it when it's warm, imagine how boring it would be if every day was cloudless and sunny. I like interesting weather personally - there should be seasons and when we follow them we get a sense of the passing of time which is how it should be. I know from past conversations that not everyone agrees with me here and most people would love to live in a country with hot weather every day; but not me.

I like seeing mist making halos around street lights, watching the rain fall out of dark distant clouds over a moody sea, the sound of rain pit-pattering on my umbrella and pounding on the window as I snuggle under soft winter duvets, the sploshing of cars driving through puddles as I sit at my laptop with the windows steamed up and a cat dozing on my lap, reading a book on the sofa with a hot water bottle wearing big fluffy socks with my fairy lights twinkling round the window and snow falling silently outside... Lovely.

It's important I think to really get into and experience each season. The coming seasons for me are hot chocolate, glasses of rich mulled wine or ruby port, soft jumpers and scarves, knee socks and boots, flickering candlelight, wood smoke, steamy windows, roast chestnuts and baked potatoes, fireworks and bonfires, crispy autumn leaves, fruit crumbles, box sets, and having time to reflect and plan.

Hell, I just love the whole damned COSINESS of it all!

Summer Pulls Its Finger Out

We've been having some gorgeous weather here in Blighty over the last few days. It seems that Summer is trying to make amends (C- for effort this year) for what has been a pretty pathetic attempt.

Boinging squirrel

I've never been a fan of Spring or Summer personally. They're both very flaky seasons with big wide blurred edges - you never really know if they've made an appearance or if they're just flashing their knickers. All mouth and no trousers in my opinion. I like warm weather but not very hot weather as I just get a bit flushed and get banging headaches, which is why I love Autumn so much.

Autumn and Winter on the other hand take their roles seriously and always deliver. The leaves turn into the colour of flames, the coldness creeps in and we descend into a season that knows what it's supposed to do. No mistaking Autumn and Winter that's for sure - they're always on the ball.

So after the weather had started to turn and the nights started drawing in, it has been a big surprise to us all to suddenly be having a bit of a heatwave. Walking in flipflops over crispy golden leaves past Christmas posters is quite surreal! It's been 29 degrees here which is saying something for England and it's been the warmest September since 1895.

Because it's been so lovely, today BBF and I went to hang out in the local park. We lay on the grass reading and eating ice lollies whilst the parks' many grey squirrels (we don't have red ones any more as the American grey ones killed them all) darted and boinged around us. It was a really nice way to spend the afternoon.

Someone's dog on the right

According to the forecast it's going to be like this for another few days (which is a bitch as a freelancer as you don't want to do any work!) then another little heatwave near the end of the month and then snow in November. Hard to believe it's the first of October. Not that you care if you live in another country of course, but I just thought I'd try to reinforce the stereotype that the English are obsessed with the weather!

Forever Autumn

I have to say that I absolutely love Autumn. It's by far my favourite time of year; I love it when the light starts to fade and you still have a bit of a tan and may get your scarf or a cardie out, but it's still not cold enough for a coat - Autumn really is over far too quickly.

Spring is ok, it's a bit of a stop/starter for me and I find it a bit flakey, it also brings with it daffodils which I absolutely loathe - overt, ugly, honking, tacky things; daffodils are nasty, slutty flowers. Summer is also nice, but again; you never really know what you're going to get - will it be hot or a washout?

The sun in England is also a bit harsh and public transport and shops are unpleasant to be in, plus I always feel that I should be outside so not to 'waste the day' when actually I want to go to the cinema! Winter, is fun until New Years day when you have no money and the greyness just stretches into what feels like forever.

No, Autumn is the best by far - the light starts to change, a mellow breeze picks up and the leaves start to turn the most breathtaking of colours before they fall to the ground desperate to be kicked about. Scarves come out and you begin to feel all cosy and snug - you can tell that change is afoot and that something is coming.

I also adore the food that accompanies Autumn; roast chestnuts, toffee apples, baked potatoes, crumbles, chutneys, berries, parsnips, squashes, and stews. The smell of wood smoke and bonfires is in the air, children are playing conkers, and you feel like you want to curl up on the sofa with a glass or red wine or port and do some writing or knitting!

My birthday is in the Autumn so perhaps that's why I love it so much; the week leading up to my birthday is simply the most magical week of the year (beating Christmas by a nose) There's Halloween, then Bonfire Night then my birthday; the sound of whizzes and bangs start to accompany the darker nights and people gather together to watch displays and celebrate 400 year-old traditions - we're the only country that celebrates Guy Fawkes night which I think is marvellous.

Halloween was the Pagan new year and maybe this is why I always feel like starting new habits in the Autumn. I actually make resolutions and plans on my birthday rather than January; a new year for me personally rather than for everyone else. Autumn is when we start to bed-in and reflect. I could live in Autumn forever.