Once I get over the initial shock of the darker mornings and nights, Autumn has always been my favorite season, as it leads up to my favorite time of year with family, Christmas. It also means the fabulous Strictly Come Dancing is back on the BBC!

It’s quite a symbolic time of year. It’s a season of transition and a hustle-bustle month, as preparations are made for the changing season.

We spend time in the garden tidying up ready for winter and getting things in order. We plant the seeds for next year’s plants and crops.

In autumn we celebrate Harvest and have done in Britain since pagan times. This reminds people of how much we have and those others who are less fortunate.

This is a time of taking stock of all the bounty and provision that we have been afforded and make plans for the next year.

In poetry Autumn has often been associated with melancholia. The fun and warmth of summer is gone, and the chill of winter is on it’s way. Skies turn grey, and many people turn inward, both physically and mentally. It has been referred to as an unhealthy season.

So this is my plan for Autumn and as the nights draw in:

• Try not to get the winter blues.
• Work hard in my new job, but enjoy myself too.
• Get organised for 2016. I have a Hen Do to organise for a friend, invites to help make (her wedding is in April and I am bridesmaid), a holiday to Berlin to book and then my brother’s wedding to be ready for (I need an Indian and British outfit). That sees me through until end of June/start of July.
• Do more craft in the evenings, instead of moaning I am too tired.
• Get organised ready for Christmas – as we will have with a new addition to our family and a different format to our Christmas Day.
• Enjoy Strictly and think fondly of my Granny, who loved the program.