Absolutely Autumn

Look what I saw on my way out of work yesterday:

We've had the most beautiful evenings this week: warm with dramatic skies and stunning sunsets.  We frequently get spectacular sunsets in Bath, the best I've seen in the UK.  I wonder why?  I think we're in a bit of a micro-climate because we sit in a valley.  We certainly collect enough rainclouds!

I love autumn.  I always think summer's my favourite: warm weather and sunshine, sundresses and sandals, long light evenings - what's not to love?  But (and forgive me for sounding terribly English for a minute) the last couple of summers have just been so disappointing: rainy and cold throughout June and July, random hot weekends in September/October...it's been unpredictable, to say the least.  There are dresses and skirts in my wardrobe which have not come out to play this year, because it just hasn't been warm enough. 

Ah, but autumn?  You know where you are with autumn.  You know you'll need a jacket this evening.  You know you ought to wear boots and bring an umbrella because it will probably rain.  Then as September gives way to October the scarves and gloves and woolly tights come out.  But for now, just when it begins, it's still light when you're heading home from work.  There are still the occasional evenings you can sit outside.  You still need to take your sunglasses out on a Saturday, just in case.  You need an extra layer, but there isn't that frantic bundling-up-out-of-necessity which winter brings.  A girl can still maintain a silhouette!  Everybody starts wearing my favourite colour palette: browns, purples, mustards, and mossy greens.  Warmth.  Comfort.

And when the leaves start to turn?  Gets me every year, they're just so gorgeous.  Autumn is beautiful.  Swishing through piles of leaves on the street like a schoolgirl.  Autumn in nostalgic - it brings excitement along with it - back to school, new pencils and shoes.  Halloween, Thanksgiving (my boyfriend's American, so I get to hijack this holiday, too), and, of course, (whisper it) Christmas is coming - you can hear rumours of them on the breeze.  Autumn is whistful: summer is coming to a close, like the last days of a holiday, and we're feeling relaxed and sleepy.  Ready to curl up in thick socks and cosy jumpers.  Autumn is reassuring.