There are those who love the first signs of Autumn, and as August draws to a close are already pulling thick sweaters from their wardrobes and dusting down soup recipes. Not me. Despite the weather in London this week becoming decidedly chilly), I am reluctant to accept Autumn is setting in. Just a few days ago we were sitting in a friends garden sharing brunch in the warm September sunshine.
According the the Met Office astronomical autumn begins on the 22nd September, which means it is still late summer until 21st September. Ever hopeful of some more warm days, that’s what I’m sticking too.
Despite the slow shuffle Autumn that September brings, it is a good month. During the hot days of summer, I find my brain becomes as liquid as melted ice cream, and thoughts and ideas are carried away on the warm breeze before I can capture them. There is a noticeable shift in energy during this seasonal transition Like so many others have said before me, September is a good time to start new things. It is the beginning of the new school year, the time to sharpen pencils and buy new pens. It is a time to make plans, begin new things and set goals to take you to the end of the year. I like that.
August was full with day trips to Whitstable and Cambridge, a camper van stay in a plum orchard, visits from friends, a couple of outdoor theatre excursions and our wedding anniversary which we celebrated at the fabulous Scotts in Richmond. A definite recommend is the set lunch menu. We sat outside on the terrace on a glorious sunny day overlooking the River Thames watching the world skip by.
I ended August in Vienna, a beautiful city filled with buildings which look like wedding cakes, horse drawn carriages and churches and concert halls filled wiht music. It was my first visit and I loved it, although the very hot days took me a little by surprise. I am adding it to my list of places I would like to revisit during a slightly cooler season.
September began with a much looked forward to visit by my brother and family. We did London things and took in the sights on the top of an open top bus tour. I have never done one of these before, always believing I could see the sights from a normal bus at a fraction of the cost. It was a revelation. It was such a great way to see so much of the city and we could hop on and off all day if we wanted, such was the frequency of the buses.
Since then it has been back to work and back to writing, and back to a routine I had abandoned during August. And despite my reluctance to let go of Summer I am ready for the routine to begin again, for now anyway!
London Things
This is a good time to be in London as many big new exhibitions are beginning to open for the Autumn / Winter season.
I have often spoken of my love of Monet and I can’t wait to see Monet and London: Views of the Thames, opening at The Courtald Gallery on 7th September until 19th January 2025.
Lots of opportunities to get nosey at London Open House Festival from the 14th - 22nd September. This is always one for the diary. One of our most memorable open house visits was to The Royal Courts of Justice where we could wander freely between courtrooms and the vast halls.
Another favourite September event and one I always try to get to is pleasingly local to me. Chiswick Book Festival, always has a great programme of author talks and events at various locations around Chiswick. There are a few talks I have my eye on but I hope to get to this one and this one.
Writing
I wrote very little (other than my usual journaling) during August, not intentionally but it seemed the unintentional break was a good one. I took time to enjoy some of the things which really only happen in summer. It has meant I have come back to the laptop and the pen refreshed and with ideas of things I want to work on. However the main priority for Autumn is heading towards the completion of my book and preparing it for self publishing, which is the route I have decided to take on this occasion.
I recently wrote about my writing room, the place where as the sun goes down on another day I am currently tapping away at my laptop with my writing group in small squares on my screen as we finish the day writing together.
Reading
Summer is always a good reading time for me and there have been a few books I have really loved over the last month or so.
Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink was just brilliant. An exploration of how books really can provide comfort and joy, and in her case changed the course of her life. Cathy is such a warm and generous writer. I was in tears at the end, for reasons I still haven’t fully processed.
Light by Eva Figgs was an impulse purchase when I popped into a local bookshop to buy a gift for a friend. This is the story of a day in the life of Monet as he paints in his garden. This novel intertwines the changing light throughout the day, with how it impacts on his work and the emotions of his household, including his grieving wife. It was a lovely surprise and and it’s brevity meant I could read it in an afternoon
Again Rachel by Marian Keyes was fun and a result of my new love of Marian Keyes. It was good to read it soon after Rachel’s holiday as events and characters from this were still fresh in my mind. The same heartfelt sadness, heartbreak and of course humour made this wholly enjoyable.
The Go Between by LP Hartley is a book I have wanted to read in a while. I found a copy of it recently when going through my Mum’s bookshelves and knew it I had to read it. It opens with the memorable line 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there...' It is the story of one boys awakening into the adult world through a long hot summer in Norfolk. Painful and poignant.
There are a couple of substacks I have been enjoying recently too. I am a free subscriber to both.
Clover Stroud: On The Way Life Feels I love the variety of topics Clover writes about with such seeming ease
Between - This journal of an English woman in the French countryside is filled with day to day life running of a beautiful guest house. Glorious pictures of house interiors and a garden filled with dahlias and cosmos have made me swoon.
And Finally..
If you are around Covent Garden, do go and look at the inflatable floating clouds suspended from the glass roof. The aim of this installation is to spread a message of kindness, positivity and helping others. They make me happy. I think they will make you happy too.
PS: If you would like to give this post a 💙 it makes me smile and in ways I don’t understand helps other people find me!
What a great book selection and I must book the Monet once I’m home. (We arrived back on the 22nd- just in time for Autumn!)
I read Again, Rachel this summer and I couldn't put it down!