Autumn in the air

Greetings, lovely readers and friends,

I hope you are enjoying September and October. In the UK, it is a time when the sunflowers are kings in the garden in my house, and the bumble bee numbers dwindle, but they are still finding nectar. Soon, it won't be long before the frosts take over, and everything hibernates or fades to grey.

For a long time, I have struggled with this season. Often, it is darkness that becomes an obstacle to happiness. Over the years, I have filled my home with tactical lighting and made it as cosy as possible. The introduction of natural fire with the log burner - even if it is bad for the lungs - has brought warmth to the cold nights. I've found that the closer I am to nature, the better. So kicking up the colourful red leaves and walking by the river under a cold blue sky can make me as happy as Larry. I make the most of those moments. I'm also better at treating myself to cake and hot chocolates - and abandoning any rules about sugar. 

But autumn is a good time for me to write. With more time and being confined inside, turning inward into the imagination feels only natural. I have been writing today, and from now until at least May, will be my most prolific time to write. If you are a new writer, I encourage you to be kind to yourself and find the time of year that suits you best to get down to it. Let yourself enjoy the summer and sunshine, and perhaps have a lighter touch when you are outdoors. Writers are prone to get their heads down, come what may, but I have learned to smell the roses and permit myself to stop when summer is at its peak.

Happy days,
Cxx