Reasons I Love October (& Halloween Isn't One Of Them!)

Here we go with another Blogtober post where I try and share a bit more about myself and my life in a bid to fall in love with writing for the sake of it again.

I was pegging the washing out and glorying in a chilly morning warming up while slightly mourning the end of summer. But then I started thinking about the benefis of cooler days and darker nights in what is one of the most restful months for me generally.

The summer is always a bit bonkers. My mum comes over to escape the Cypriot summer, the Uni crowd come home and although I love to see them the house is busier, more meals, more shopping, more people in our small living space and our routine of the two of us watching frankly middle aged TV is disrupted. We are lucky enough to enjoy holidays in the summer- usually a family one then we go away with mum (thanks mum) but of course that brings the chaos of packing, unpacking, organisational chores and tighter budgeting.

September is back to education (although not for son 4 as he just graduated) with more packing, shopping, budgeting and a trip north with a packed car for one and the anxiety of a new term for another. Although that is improving so I think now I'm more anxious than she is!

September melts into October and in the last few days I found myself enjoying again the comfort of cosy slippers instead of my summer sliders, warm porridge for breakfast and snuggling under the duvet instead of lying sweating under the ceiling fan.

Seasonal ingredients change and sprouts reappear in the supermarket. I made a great transitional sprout dish the other day - A side salad featuring shaved raw sprouts with dried cranberries, toasted pine buts and a lmon dressing which paired paerfectly with roast chicken and cripy jacket potatoes. Originally shared by Love and Lemons I urge you to try it. I didn't tell my dinner guests what it was until after they had cleaned out the bowl and declared it delicious!

Before my friends came to share this simple feast I realised it was dark enough to light some scented candles around the house - the first time I have done this since spring. I love the autumn /winter scents like cinnamon and vanilla, red berry and pumpkin spice and the atmosphere created by the candles in my many, many tealight holders and lanterns.

On the subject of pumpkin spice I am sorry/not sorry that I am an enjoyer of this sweet seasonal flavour. An email declaring the start of pumpkin spice season at *that* famously overpriced coffee shop will prompt me to spend a stupid amount of money on a frothy mess with cinnamon on top. Luckily I have discovered I can buy pumpkin spice coffee syrup and make my own at home for a fraction of the price.

Now I don't have young children I no longer have to endure Halloween and can forgo buying sweets, having to touch the inside of pumpkins to clean them out for lanterns, sourcing usually last minute costumes, a chilly walk round the streets begging for cheap chewy things and/or a disturbed evening answering the door to children I don't know. 

I know, Bah, Humbug or whatever the Halloween equivalent is. It wasn't a thing when I was young. Does anyone remember "penny for the guy" which was? There's one exception to my dislike of Halloween - the Blenheim Palace Halloween Trail which was lots of fun (gifted).

Generally nowadays on October 31 you'll find me relaxing watching whatever middle aged detective series we are currently binging, wearing my slippers and rejoicing in the fact I don't have to remember to dispose of a mouldy, sagging pumpkin shell at some point.  

So cheers to October- close enough to Christmas to look forward to it without the stress of a busy calendar, bills and additional chores. What do YOU love about this month?