Embracing September: My Least Favourite Month

25 Reasons Why I Will Love This September

I felt an uneasiness last night while thinking about the fact that it was 31st August and September, my least favourite and historically most challenging month of the year was coming up. Struggling for something to write this morning, I opened up my laptop and groaned when I saw the date. Since I’m trying to be positive these days (because goodness knows, there are enough things to be negative about), I decided to write a list of things I personally love about September.

1. The Largs Viking Festival

It happens every year in a town called Largs which isn’t too far away from me. It lasts about a week and features a rebuilt Viking village, a re-enactment of a Viking raid complete with screams of terror and the burning of a longboat which is pushed out to sea. All that beautiful craftsmanship, simply set alight. Wow.

2. The leaves turn orange

Orange is my absolute favourite colour. I love it. Although I have always found the fact that the leaves are changing and falling a depressing thought, this year I am going to revel in the fact that my favourite colour is everywhere.

3. Apple crumble

There is no better non-chocolate dessert, in my opinion. Apple crumble is the best, and it’s the perfect time to make it since apples are in season in September here.

4. There are thirty days

This is quite a random one and only applies if you are a writer, but the fact that there are thirty days and it’s the last thirty day month before November means it’s a good time to practise for NaNoWriMo and estimate what you can realistically write in a day and how much stamina for writing you have.

5. School holidays

Here in Scotland, children get a long weekend from school. Which means I get a long weekend too since I don’t have to drive and do the school run. That is something worth smiling about.

6. The Ayr Gold Cup

Another local one. The Ayr Gold Cup is a horse race that takes place every year in September in Ayrshire and it feels like the whole county celebrates this. We have a long weekend around that time, people get dressed in their finery and go to the races. Being in Ayr on that day is thrilling because everyone seems to be in such a good mood. It’s a vibe. I love it.

7. Cosy clothes on sale

Can I be very girly for a minute and say that I love the fact that new lines are appearing in the stores and they are all cosy, comfy, chunky knit sweaters and cardigans? Long skirts, winter accessories, coats and cute jackets. It’s good if you’re like me and love clothes.

8. Long boot weather

I’m a long boot fan. I love slouch boots, knee-high boots, thigh-high boots, even slightly longer than ankle boots. I just love boots. And this is when it’s acceptable to wear them again.

9. The first frost

Nothing beats that first freezing cold, sunny morning towards the end of the month when you first notice little tiny shards of ice clinging to fences and car windscreens. Your breath mists up and you need to scrape your car for the first time in months. It gets old really quick, but I do enjoy that first time.

10. Christmas shopping starts

Don’t judge me on this but I love to start my Christmas shopping early. It’s one of my favourite ways to spend money and I love discovering the first Christmas range of the season in supermarkets, department stores or anywhere really.

11. Night school starts again

This one brings mixed emotions for me. I’m starting to struggle a little more with the positivity aspect. Night school reminds me that I’m so far behind where I want to be in life, but it also proves to me, every time I show up, that I’m working on getting to where I want to be. So it’s a good thing.

12. New textbooks

University starts in October and September is the month that I usually receive my new textbooks. They’re fresh and new and full of possibilities. I can’t wait to receive mine. I’m studying advanced creative writing this year so that should be quite interesting and hopefully fun.

13. A new season of the Royal Opera

I recently discovered that I quite like opera and ballet. I never thought it would happen, but here I am. This month a new season starts at the Royal Ballet and soon they’ll be broadcasting shows to cinemas every couple of weeks. I’m really keen to go and see Das Rheingold this month.

14. Blackpool Illuminations

They start in September and finish in January every year. Every time there are too many lights left on in the house, I turn into a typical Scottish mum and say “It’s like bloody Blackpool Illuminations in here!” which cracks my son up. So, we’re going to drive down to Blackpool one weekend, see the illuminations and drive back home the same night. For those who don’t know Blackpool, it’s like a little Las Vegas in the north of England and the illuminations are basically every light in the town being switched on.

15. Mabon

I officially identify as Pagan and Mabon is the holiday we have around the equinox every autumn. I don’t have any particular way of celebrating. Just lots of autumnal decorations, apple crumble and some family time.

16. Happy september memories

The reason September is one of my most dreaded months is because historically the last week of September is when all the awful things that have ever happened to me have taken place. I tend to forget that I also had one of the best weeks of my life in the last week of September 2004. I was travelling on a cruise in the Mediterranean and saw Tunisia, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. It was magical. So, I’m going to remember all those sweet September memories this year.

17. Celebrating how far i have come since bad september memories

I think this is always a good thing to do. The bad times were learning experiences and I’m not the same person I was when I lived through all the bad September stuff.

18. Getting the new wreath on the door

Every year, I hang up my autumn wreath just like the one pictured below. I absolutely love it. I also love the fact that it’s the last wreath of the year that I put up before the Christmas one!

19. Getting the Hallowe’en decorations out

I love Hallowe’en and I love the fact that towards the end of the month, I’m getting all the pumpkin lights and skeletons out of the loft. I’m preparing to decorate at the start of October.

20. New skincare

With colder days brings dryer skin and I love going out and buying new skincare products for myself. I don’t love actually having rough, dry skin, but at least I get some nice goodies to tackle it with.

21. Hot drinks

Costa start selling flavoured hot chocolates around this time. I didn’t love it last year because it was a Toblerone flavoured hot chocolate and my allergen was in it, but most of the time, they stick to orange or mint or gingerbread flavours. That’s worth celebrating.

22. Autumnal candles

I absolutely love the scent of an autumnal candle radiating through my house. Cinnamon or apple or cloves — I don’t mind. Just something fruity and spicy will do.

23. Cuddle time

It’s getting colder. I’m cold. I need cuddles, and my husband and dog oblige. That’s awesome. My son isn’t quite so keen. He’s not a cuddler and that’s ok too.

24. Autumnsong

It’s the start of the time of year when I can legitimately listen to this Manic Street Preachers song and not feel weird. I’ve shared the link to the video below.

25. That last day of summer…

Every warm day is appreciated so much right now because it could be the last one of the year. They somehow feel more magical because of it.

What’s your favourite thing about September?