I love this time of year.
The sun is out but there’s a chill in the air, so it’s the time for walks with big coats and scarves, kicking through autumn leaves on your way to get a nice, hot drink (and a cake.)
I love the summer and the heat, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about this time of year, when you can see your breath in the air and everything feels a little bit magical. And no it isn’t the magic of bloody Christmas, at least not just yet.
This time of year is full of magical dates as well. It all kicks off with my mum’s birthday celebrations at the end of October, then Bonfire Night (of course – fireworks are f’ing awesome), that’s swiftly followed by the mother-in-law’s birthday, then my birthday, then the Christmas plans can get underway.
Trust me, if anyone mentions Christmas in my family before November 15th then shit hits the fan. It doesn’t really.
To be fair I’m not attaching as much significance to people celebrating Christmas before my birthday as I used to. However, it is still a bit annoying to be asked what I want for Christmas BEFORE I’ve unwrapped my birthday presents.
Anyway, as the nights draw in it may be cause to be miserable but far from it. The nights may be colder but that means big warm beds and massive duvets, not seasonal affective disorder and a face like a smacked arse.
I can hear it in offices around the country already. ‘Sigh, it’s getting dark already, and it’s freezing and it’s miserable and it’s blah, blah bloody blah’.
Yes we know it’s dark outside, thank you for telling us for the umpteenth fucking time, you know the windows are see through, right? You know I come in and leave at exactly the same time as you, right?
This time of year is all about getting together with people and enjoying each other’s company, not moaning about the short days and colder weather.
This weekend, J and I, being the fun guys we are, stood and watched our resident robin getting fatter and our not-so-secret squirrel pal burying his nuts around the garden (honestly get your minds out of the gutter it’s not that kind of blog.) He was saving them for the colder season if you’re wondering, you filth bags!
If you need to find me in the next week or two I’ll be the one holding a Bailey’s hot chocolate in one hand and a sparkler in the other.
Oooooooo! Aaaaah!