Sunday (not-so) scaries - Oct 6

Brat summer is over, reflections on cosy girl autumn are here. 🍁

Credit: Scott Evans

The North East’s annual attempt at a summer has floundered into autumn. And though that might sound a little cynical (I can’t help it, that’s how I sound), I actually don’t mind it.

Summer in Malta was just about unbearable, with 40-degree heat and humidity so high your sweat didn’t really evaporate, it just stuck to you quite stubbornly. When you move from somewhere known for its sunshine to a notoriously cold country, and people scramble for small talk, you’ll often get the question: ‘Move here for the weather, did ya?’

Ha-ha, so funny. Especially when you hear it the 150th time. But yes, because 40-degree heat and endless sunshine are only fun for the 5 days or so you’re in the country for your package holiday. It’s a bit less ‘live, laugh, love’ when you’re stuck in traffic on your way to work, sweating through the thin layer of makeup you’ve applied, in a Fiat Punto with no air conditioning. The fact I didn’t get called in by HR for the outfits I had to wear to survive baffles me to this day.

Anyway, I digress. English summers—when we get them—are my ideal summer weather. Warm, but not too hot. Perfect for sitting in a beer garden and chatting with friends, or reading a book with a chilled glass of white wine. But autumn? Autumn is my favourite time of the year.

When summer snaps into autumn, I get excited. There’s a crispness in the air, and the golden sun hitting the brown and yellow leaves as I crunch my way through the park fills me with something like joy. The air is laced with promise; the world is starting to quieten down into the hush of winter.

Maybe it’s because I moved country at this time of the year. A fresh start in a new-ish city. Maybe it’s watching the earth go into hibernation, ready for a rebirth. Or maybe it’s that ‘back to school’ feeling. My mum used to make a big deal out of the ‘back to school’ season, taking me to the stationery shop around the corner to stock up on all the essentials—and non-essentials, if we’re being honest. To this day, starting a new job or project requires a new notebook, pen, sticky notes…

The potential of a brand-new notebook, and finally using that nice pen you’ve had your eye on for a while. Crack the spine, scrawl the date across the top of the page, and begin.

You can do whatever you want with it—create any world, explore any thoughts, express any emotion. To me, whether that’s on a page or on my laptop, that’s the ultimate freedom. The only place, really, where nobody can tell you what’s possible, what you can and can’t do.

So, as we step into the crisp embrace of autumn, I wonder—what does this season mean for you? Is it a fresh start, a time for new ideas, or maybe just an excuse to treat yourself to a pumpkin-spiced latte? Is it a miserable season you just want to get out of the way? Whatever it is, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Comment and let me know how you’re welcoming the season, and if this little reflection made you smile, do share it with someone who needs a break from the Sunday scaries. 🫶🏻

Bonus: I made this comforting soup and it’s perfect for autumn. Try it!