November: Autumn, Travelling & Birthday Celebrations

Hello! Can you believe it's November already? I swear, I just blinked and it was here. Halloween came and went in such a blur this year - we made a big display of it at work with epic Halloween window displays and gelato flavours, but not a single snippet of Halloween festivities entered my house! Last year, we had carved pumpkins, we had a bucket with Draculas face on it filled with sweets ready to greet the Trick or Treaters, we had friends round for drinks - although nobody was in costume - but we were definitely more Halloween ready. This year? Nada. It's ironic because in my last post, I talked about how obsessed with the seasons I am, how I lean in to all the festivities at any time of year, and here I am not doing a single thing for Halloween! BUT... I have a reason!

We've been super pre-occupied with getting ready to go to MEXICO, BABY! It was a fairly last minute plan (decided maybe 4 months in advance? That's last minute, right?) We are going to celebrate Lisa's brother, who is also one of our closest friends, turning 30! The decision on where he wanted to go was made pretty late on, hence the last-minuteness of it all. Essentially, we've all just been working loads and trying not to spend much in preparation for the trip, so there's been less galavanting around and enjoying the local events. Also, trying to shop for holiday clothes in October is interesting! I definitely found it surreal scouring the sale rails for the dregs of swimwear left from Summer whilst listening to Christmas music! CHRISTMAS MUSIC! In the middle of October. I actually love Christmas music so I didn't mind one bit, but I bet the staff in Newlook will be sick of it come December!

I am trying to put Christmas out of my mind as much as I can while I focus on the trip, because I love Christmas and want to fully embrace it when I'm back. I'm really having to restrain myself - I have been fighting the urge to watch Christmas With The Kranks since July! Ironically, that film is all about last minute Christmas preparations, so maybe I can pick up some tips from it when I'm back! Right now, it's all about Mexico. We haven't been abroad since our Honeymoon 3 years ago due to Covid, so I am super excited! I even bought a little guide book so I can make a list of all the places I want to go while we're there. It is a group holiday so we won't go off exploring on too many days, but I definitely want to do a little bit. As well as Luke turning 30 while we're out there, Lisa also has a birthday (the next day!) so it's a double celebration! And then when we're back, their Mum and older brother have birthday's, too, so even MORE celebrations! November is a hectic month!

Back to Autumn for a minute. We are going to watch a fireworks display with some friends tonight. You can see a nearby display from their garden, so we're having a little gathering at theirs which I'm really looking forward to. You can't beat a good fireworks display! Especially with a beer and a hot dog!

Another friend has gifted me some Bramley apples from her tree, and I keep meaning to make an apple crumble. I feel like I haven't had five minutes to think about it yet, but I am very excited to make that when I get chance.

An apple tree is definitely on the list of things I want to plant. I've been devouring gardening books and podcasts at the moment, and so many of them are geared towards established gardens, so I've really had to sieve out the info for beginners. But, it's all in the planning at this time of year, so I've learned. So I've made a list of everything I would like to grow and noted when is the best time to so the seeds. I am wrote ambitious, I've got a long list, but luckily not everything gets sown at once, so I can start small and build up. I've decided I'm going to start sowing seeds indoors in January, and I will definitely keep you updated!

So that's how my November is shaping up - Mexico planning, working lots and trying not to get too excited about Christmas yet! How's your November going?

Bex