BLISS

It’s that time of the year again...

Leafs start to turn into all shades of vibrant brown, red, and yellow and slowly start to fall. Leafs get crunchy as you walk past them, the air is fresh, the sun is out and you gradually start to take your winter clothes out of the closet.

Who cares if the calendar says that Autumn doesn’t start until the 22^nd of September?

You can feel it in the air. It’s Autumn alright. One the most beautiful seasons of the year. There’s just something special about Autumn and maybe that’s because the part that everyone loves about it doesn’t last long.

We cherish it more due to its short lived beauty.

This Summer was particularly different from the other 3 I have experienced whilst in the UK as it lasted longer and it was also more periods of hot weather.

On my first entry blog I described my experience since landing in the UK for the first time and how different the temperature felt. It was August and I was wearing my winter Zara coat whilst everyone was wearing t-shirts and looking at me like I was some sort of weirdo.

I remember being beginning of October 2013 when I had a panic attack over the cold I felt. It wasn’t freezing but my body wasn’t used to the type of cold I felt and the type of cold I was feeling so it entered something I like to call “safety/panic mode”.

This happened during a 5 minute walk from the bus stop to my house. I never experienced anything quite like that before. All of me was freezing and as soon as I walked in my housemate pushed me against the radiator, placed blankets on top of me and then asking me “It’s only October mate, how are you going to survive Winter?”.

I had no idea.  I went on to have a hot shower as my body was struggling to cope and I was unable to warm myself up.

Summer in Portugal is dry. In England is moist. Almost tropical, hence, after a few days of heat, the inevitable storm follows. It’s disgusting. You’re always sticky and feeling gross.

The Winter in Portugal is also dry, you can feel the cold reach your bones. In England is something that after 3 years I still can’t exactly describe. I couldn’t feel my hands, it was horrible.

I was given a great piece of advice back then: always wear a hat or carry a hat on your bag. Apparently our body loses heat from the top of our head first and by using a hat, the chances of keeping yourself in the right body temperature increases massively and end up feeling less cold as well. It actually works. I am now the proud owner of a few wool hats which I use on a daily basis like a fashion accessory. 

Like shoes. You can never just have one pair or two. Simply doesn’t work that way.

I have to admit that I have been resisting to the best of my abilities to turn the heating on. I think I did amazingly well this year as it was only last night that I turned it on for the first time since the beginning of Summer.

My boyfriend was out and I was on my own cuddled up in my blanket re-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix . I am a huge fan of Gilmore Girls and in case you are to, be prepared for a new season coming up soon!

But back to the subject: I was eating a proper Autumnal soup which I’ve made myself: Sweet potato with rosemary. Delicious, nutritious and definitely fits well in the season.

I felt extremely comfy and happy. For nothing in particular, it’s the magical aspect of the season. You are relaxed and feel comfortable and there’s this warmth in your heart for no reason at all. You are happy just because you are happy.

Autumn is also the time where you feel like you want a duvet day.  Spend the day in bed watching movies with a nice cup of tea and some chocolate but at the same time you also want to put your wellies on, your wool hat and go for a nice walk in the park and appreciate the beauty of the season.

Autumn is great. It’s like in-between nostalgic moment, where you are transitioning from Summer to Christmas and it’s amazing. 

You remember your happy childhood moments and you are in a safe moment in your mind. I remember when I was still in kindergarten and used to take a blue blanket with me every day. I would walk around on my own with my blanket enjoying the colors of the leafs in a little bush they had there. It was by a river and an abandoned house which we used to say it was hunted and where only a witch lived in. Perfect scenario for Halloween right? Thankfully, I would go home at the end of the day as I am sure that I wouldn't find it as beautiful during the evening!

I also remember that I had a vintage poster in my bedroom of a little girl with a see-through umbrella posing outside during Autumn. I believe it to be one of many famous photos by photographer Kim Anderson as it fits perfectly in his work but can't say for sure.

And walks in the park when my nana used to do cross-country running and take me with her. Finally, a painting at my grandparents house... My grandparents have an original oil painting in their living room of a forest during Autumn with a golden vintage frame. It's a beautiful painting that captures the true essence and colors of the season. You can get lost in the details. It's huge and takes pretty much most of the wall. It's not painted by anyone famous, probably worth close to nothing but I have always been in love with that painting.

Take a deep breath and smile. Aaahhhh Autumn... Welcome back my friend.

Duvet days and walks in the park. Gert lush. Can’t get more Bristolian nor perfect than that :) 

Photo by Kim Anderson