Not hibernation

Sunday dawned cold. So, maybe this is actually the ‘real’ start of autumn. We shall see. Lit woodstove for first time since last winter.

I had my Covid booster last week (flu jab several weeks ago).

We’re almost in corporate third-quarter earnings reports so work has been busy and should stay that way through mid-November.

Anyway, I like the ‘idea’ of autumn, of crisp, dry, cooler, bright days. But, that’s not the reality here. Instead, we mostly get damp and grey. Why did I move here, you ask? Well, it is beautiful, it’s near the ocean (which I missed about London), and at the time – around 15 years ago – it was semi-rural but still close to decent sized towns with a good clutch of independent shops etc (however, the amount of housing development over the last five years without any supporting infrastructure is mind-bogglingly stupid).

But autumn really isn’t my time of year – only preferred to winter. Last week, March mentioned autumn anxiety. Other things to dislike are the lack of light (ie, the move to more hours of dark vs light), the bare trees, the lack of fruit I like (apples are ok but I prefer them in crumble), and the largely shutting down of the garden (and the disappearance from television of the Gardeners’ World programme).

Would I hibernate if I could? Probably not, but there are things that make the change in weather and light more bearable (I do enjoy the change in my ‘fume wardrobe), one of which is even more reading because by mid-December it gets light at 9 am and dark at 4 pm.

I enjoy settling in front of the woodstove or under the duvet with a book. An engaging book makes the dark and grey less unpleasant. So, a few books I’m looking forward to over the next few months.

First is the release in early November of the fourth book in the August Snow series by Stephen Mack Jones. Twist on former cop, set in Detroit. Well written, interesting, surprising, great characters – well worth looking into the whole series.

Second is a new Dennis Lehane (of the Kenzie and Gennaro books – another series worth looking into) set in Boston (his stuff tends to be in Massachusetts), a thriller noted on amazon as “… a masterly psychological study of racism”. I whooshed through it in two days. Very well written, very unsettling. Set in Boston during the bus boycotts related to school integration in the early 1970s. Really strong main female character.

Finally, I recently finish the latest book in Craig Johnson’s Longmire series (sheriff set in Wyoming – well written, sometimes very surprising, a bit of magic, there must be close to or more than 15 of them and there’s only one that I felt was meh – and no, I’ve not watched the television series).

Perfumes continue to pop up that I want to try but I’m holding off on any sampling till I make it up to London – which should happen at some point in November.

I am deeply curious about the new Guerlain in the L’Art et La Matière collection, Tobacco Honey, two notes I really enjoy and enjoy together. Per the Guerlain website, “The wickedly sensual substance of raw tobacco reveals itself as an accord, unveiling its most beautiful facets when touched by honey”.

But no sample buying, as the Guerlain is silly money from the local sample websites. So, I’ll see what I can do when I’m up-country.

I recently discovered Jon Batiste, a musician but something of a Renaissance man.

I’m wearing Serge Lutens Arabie – first time since winter. Perfect for cold, leaves falling, etc. Am reminded each year how luscious this is.

Pics: Pexels and mine