opening chapter eleven – hello november
Sparklers swirl. Rockets soar. “Oohs” and “ahhs” fill the air. Bonfires roar. Embers fly. A patchwork of colour above. In the morn, wellies on. Make the most of the light. Hedgerows sparse. Branches bare. Rivers rumble once more. Muddy walks. Home to lunch. Sunday roasts. Pudding too! Daylight tires. Darkness falls. A sea of stars above. Pyjamas on. Snuggle up. Snooze in front of the fire. Dawn breaks. The first frost. Breath clings to the air. Feeling festive? Time to decorate. Too soon? Don’t be daft! Autumn sighs. Winter stirs. Santa dusts off his sleigh. At long last, the best time of year’s on its way…
Owing to the fact that we can officially say that Christmas is next month, November’s arrival means that I am ready to embrace the C word in full! Whether it’s carving out a Sunday morning this month to make more jars of Christmas chutney, establishing a plan for where we’ll be spending Christmas Day (so that loved ones can also plan etc…) or working out what I actually want to prioritise during the festive season so that I can get my ducks in a row, purchase tickets, book travel etc… to me, it’s the gentle warm up before the race to the finish line begins…
And I am very excited to don the metaphorical trainers and get going!
I appreciate that this time of year can often feel like it’s crept up on us though. ‘How is it November already?’ Is certainly a phrase I’ve found myself saying to myself in years gone by. For that reason, if you happen to get to this time of year and feel yourself getting panicked that there’s only so many weeks of the year left to get things done (as I did once-upon-a-time) make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter before 7pm this evening.
I’ll be sharing ‘My 2023 Christmas Calendar’ then – a list of key dates from now until Christmas Day, that will hopefully act as reminders to ensure that we make the most of the festive period and get to Christmas Day feeling excited, not depleted!
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Christmas aside though, there are so many autumnal moments of magic to treasure this month that don’t deserve to be overshadowed by the countdown to Christmas. Be it the last of the fiery Autumnal colours and light that I try to savour as the sun sets in the garden, the sense of awe and wonder that hangs in the air as fireworks soar up above or that magical feeling that seeps in when we wake up to the first frost, as the bridge that connects Autumn and Winter, it’s one of my favourite months to wrap up warm and spend as much time as possible outdoors.
Every year, I oscillate between living in the moment and cherishing the autumnal hues and getting giddy about all of the festive traditions that are heading our way…
As always, I hope you find magic in this month too x
As always, I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to this month. Let me know in the comments below.
Missed the opening to chapter ten? Catch up on last month’s thoughts here…
One of my favourite months!
The Reluctant Blogger | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
Hi Lydia,
It’s so nice to read you and literally feel and picture all that you’re describing 🙂
I too, couldn’t wait for the autumn season to start and bless us with its crispy and colorful beauty. I love waking up to witness the day starting, the sun peaking through the clouds. The birds chirping, all while living in a city (so grateful for the trees in the city).
Drinking hot herbal teas at the office, coming home to light up all the dim lights and candles while preparing dinner and ending the day with a movie or a chapter form a book. Talking about it makes me excited to be home this evening 🙂
Each day has its own beauty that we are so lucky to embrace!
Can’t wait to read your next chapter!
xx