The Small Joys of Autumn

Let’s be honest, Autumn and Winter can be grim : the longest term ever for the kids under low grey skies and the assault of Halloween and Christmas marketing in parallel with a cost of living crisis. However, all is not lost, I have been in cahoots with my family and friends and we have come up with a list of the tiniest things that may bring you a little touch of joy this time of year.

I find that short days provide the ultimate excuse to be lazy, there is no laundry to bring in and it’s too dark to possibly go out. Autumn really is the perfect time to snuggle up with your books, films and listen to music as soon as the sun goes down. I have put a few ideas below and hope that I have included some small joys that are accessible to all.

1. Sunrise at an acceptable hour.

2. Hedgehogs. Help them to hibernate successfully, build a hog house or maybe even get a camera !

3. Eating bowls of custard with or without crumble (Birds is fine)

4. Candle light, firelight and fairy lights.

5. Sparklers (fireworks too scary for dogs)

6. The lingering smell of bonfires.

7. Hanging up food for birds. Recipe for Fat Balls here

8. Sunday roast at home or in a pub after a long walk

9. Bright orange tangerines in the shops

10. Soup … think of all those poor disgarded Halloween pumpkins. Recipe here (I love mine with ginger and toasted pumpkin seeds.

11. Plant as many spring bulbs as possible (dig them deep into the soil- it will be worth it..)

12. Corduroy

Once you put your mind to it, I am sure that you will find other pleasures suited to this time of year. Please add them to the comments below for everyone to enjoy.

I will leave you with this beautiful quote that we can all aspire to, although in my opinion it is perfectly acceptable to moan and bitch throughout the whole season.

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

Albert Camus

Sophie xx

Linen tablecloth and napkins in Florence.

How to Autumn - Part 1 BOOKS

I woke up this morning and felt the very specific cool breeze that always comes at the beginning of Autumn. Whilst it was a billion degrees last week, the new season will sneak up on us quickly and I like to be prepared. Like many of you, I find this particular time of year quite tricky. I think that it is the combination of being frankly quite exhausted after the school holiday juggle but also mourning the longer days and time spent outdoors. To avoid that flat feeling, it’s nice to have a few little plans for Autumn to welcome and embrace the new season.

Reading is vital to me, however I don’t always find it easy to find the right book for my particular mood or circumstance. In order to soothe the malaise that comes with the loss of summer and ease ourselves into the colder months, we need books that will warm our hearts as well as keep us engaged. Below I have compiled a little list of books that I find both cheering and comforting.

One Day I Will Astonish The World - Nina Stibbe

I have chosen this book because I thought it was so funny, full of wit and irony. The story follows the rather dull life of Susan in rural Leicestershire and her extraordinary friendship with bizarre Norma. I found the book a little hard to get into but ultimately loved the eccentricities of the characters alongside the frequently dark humour.

Games and Rituals - Katherine Heiny

This is a book of short stories and every single one is a gem. Each tale is a perfect little snapshot of ordinary lives and relationships with all their quirks and complexities. My favourite short story ‘CoBra’ is about a man living with his Marie Kondo crazed wife and his growing fear that she will ultimately ‘declutter him’ now that he is deemed ‘neither beautiful nor useful.’ This is a gorgeous little book.

Without Warning and Only Sometimes - Kit De Waal

Author Kit De Waal grew up with an Irish mother and black father in a very poor home in the 1960’s. Her mother became a Johovas Witness who convinced her five children that any naughty behaviour would preclude them from heaven when the world ultimately ended (1975). In spite of all of these very tricky conditions, Kit De Waal tells her autobiogaphy with such love and affection for her family. I have chosen to include this book because it is so of warmth and hope as well as documenting the most extaordinary childhood.

Darling- India Knight

This is a fabulous fast paced retelling of the ‘Pursuit of Love’ by Nancy Mitford. Staying true to the original story, India Knight follows the eccentric Radettes around Paris and London with perfect dead pan humour. Reflective of our times, this book feels like eating a big box of expensive chocolates. I would definitely recommend reading the original for full appreciation of this decadent new version.

If you have any book recommendations for Autumn please put add them to to the comments.

I hope everyone is settling into the new season

Sophie x