I am not a person who enjoys autumn and I tend to act very negatively when people talk about enjoying each season as it is. Look I would enjoy winter much more if it wasn’t so fucking dark for so much of the year. I was wondering why and how Jo managed to be so balanced all the time and then I realised that she’s spent most of the last 10 years in places where she always gets at least 12 hours of daylight even in December, I could cope with light levels in September but by the time the clocks go back frankly, it’s a mess.

Anyway, there’s been a lot of stuff about hygge and working to enjoy the winter and while I’m still not convinced, I figure I need as much help as I can get this year because it’s going to be busy and I’m going to be on the go.

I have a couple of usual autumn/winter things that I’m doing, I’ve made elderberry syrup and will take a tablespoon a day to help boost my immunity, because as much time as I’m going to be on bus with the general population, I need all the help I can get! I’ve booked my flu jab for October and I’m going to register as a carer with my GP, so if there is a COVID jab this year, I’ll be able to get one and that should help me get faster appointments if I need them. I’m being diligent about getting enough sleep, having a good diet and my alcohol intake has reduced too (not that it was off the charts to begin with!).

There is a lot of stuff about caring for Mum that I haven’t thought about because I don’t know how things will be, you can only prepare for things you expect. However, I know that I struggle with winter and I know that Ma and I thrive on routine so I’m trying to make the times I’m with her, regular and consistent. This week that is slightly out of the window, but we are working towards me being at hers Tuesday nights, working from her house on Wednesday and being with her on Thursday nights. I’m already with her on Saturday and that won’t change.

In terms of self care, I’m being really clear about having Sunday as a ‘day off’ so I can spend time on the plot and at home. I want to have at least 4 hours on the plot a week, I’m very lucky because my allotment friends are keeping an eye on the plot while I’m away and have volunteered to help me with some tricky areas of the plot I need to sort out in the winter.

I’ve started a cross stitch as a winter project and I’m going to start a basic nine week health challenge (actually for over 60’s) but I’m not the fittest and I need the focus on small things to help me stay active and moving (sleeping on an air mattress two to three times a week is not good for the back or general mobility.

I am also remembering to do things that are mildly social and good for me, I’m going to two comedy gigs (Tom Houghton and Cally Beaton) and Paris in November.

I’m trying to make home a pleasant place, and the other reason that Sundays are my day off are so I can clean and iron and generally make the house somewhere I want to be. One of the things I did last year after Christmas is hang some lights on the bookcase and as it gets darker I’m switching those on because they do cheer me up.

I noticed that Christmas things are happening and while I generally don’t start Christmas until December but I did buy the a Frankincense and Myrrh candle and diffuser from M&S because it smells nice and feels cozy. Fun fact, I still remember both verses from ‘We Three Kings’ because of a primary school concert, I had to solo the ‘Myrrh’ verse but the entire carol is still imprinted on my memory.

It’s not the best seasonal plan but it’s what I’ve got, if anyone else has any tips for coping with winter or caring or indeed for doing both at the same time. Let me know!