Anyone else get really excited at this time of year?

[Realisticparent]

Always been the same for me since I was a little kid.

All of the autumn and Halloween stuff in the shops, the lovely knitwear coming out and the big coats. Even the Christmas stuff in the shops, and I know it's way too early but I was looking at the advent calendars today.

The weather isn't too bad yet so perfect for walking. Looking forward to our little traditions, always watch a spooky series around Halloween, the circus, carving pumpkins, then ice skating, Christmas markets. Not to mention going to a display for fireworks.

I'm not a Summer hater at all but this time of year makes me giddy with excitement.

No, I hate it - dark early evenings, the pressure of Christmas (and being worried about a lack of money), having to wear a coat, and having to cook.

@Realisticparent this is incomprehensible to me: Going for a walk and getting cold then coming in and warming up
Why on earth is this better than not getting cold at all? I hate the cold. It makes me feel ill. I’d much rather go for a hot walk and then cool down to a normal temp after.

Exactly this. How strange. Giddy?

Same here. I find it acutely depressing.

Going out of the house turns into a major production. Take off whatever indoor fluffy socks you’ve worn (I hate socks at the best of times but am forced into them). Put on other socks. Put on shoes. Put on a coat, hat, scarf. Gloves, if they work for you - my hands feel colder with them on for some reason, and I have big hands so can’t find any to fit anyway.
In summer, by contrast, you just slip your feet into sandals and go.
Cold weather is uncomfortable and inconvenient. Darkness is depressing and makes towns and cities more dangerous.

I don't actually get that cold so perhaps that's why it doesn't bother me. If I am cold then a coat and gloves is adequate. I don't think I even wore my hat last Winter.

It doesn't get cold until mid December anyway.

I love the autumn and spring best. The extremes of dead, dreary January and sweaty, sweltering August are very hard going.

This time of year I want to sit inside and knit and read, and just slow everything down. Or wrap up and go outside for a walk. The long commutes in the dark and rain spoil my vibe a bit. But I definitely find it invigorating because there’s active changes - I cook more soups and stews, I pull the curtains, I swop out my summer dresses and sandals for jumpers and boots.

Spring feels similar - there’s a promise of better weather, holidays on the horizon, Easter and excuses to eat chocolate. I get the urge to head out in the garden again.

Giddy describes it well - I feel a definite frisson of excitement in anticipation of change, and I’m spurred into activity to prepare. I imagine it’s probably quite ancient - this time of year you needed to get the harvest in and prepare for winter if you expect to survive. In spring you needed to get on with planting.

I completely agree with your point. Where you live sounds lovely and I might even appreciate summer a little bit more if I lived there, or had air con anywhere I lived or worked. And I’m fully aware that what feels like a constant wall of heat to me might just feel like a nice sunny day to someone who appreciates it.

But I’m still happier at this time of year than in the summer.

t doesn't get cold until mid December anyway.

In your part of the UK maybe. But the average temperature somewhere like Aberdeen is 6c in November. That is not warm.

Yes, I love autumn, Halloween, bonfire night, the leaves changing, the better sleep with having some darkness before bedtime, the clothing - all of it.

I don't really get pissed of with the cold, the wet and the dark until January when it becomes unbearably miserable. It must be awful for people who feel like this from now.

Yeah, tbf, in discussions like this you should have to declare your latitude before being allowed to make any bold claims. There's such a breadth of difference.

So true! When I lived in Scotland, spring and summer were my favourite seasons. Now I'm much further south, autumn and winter are my favourite. I even like January and February. It's the humidity down here I dislike so much. Those lovely warm June days we had this summer, when it felt hot, but quite fresh still, were lovely. But the humidity is horrible for me. And much of the summer down here can be like that. I do try to find the good parts of summer though. I love the blooming hedgerows and wildflowers, and beach holidays.

in discussions like this you should have to declare your latitude before being allowed to make any bold claims. There's such a breadth of difference.

I agree. I think a significant number of mumsnetters must live in London where they not only benefit from the latitude and altitude, but the heat island effect from living in a city.

I love autumn! My favourite time of year!

It's the smell of autumn that I love. It heralds coziness and warmth, not that sticky , sultriness of high summer.

As an aside, I'm agog at the sheer number of houses that have full on Halloween decorations this year. Never seen so much in previous years at this early stage. Trees and bushes festooned with 'cobwebs' , lanterns aplenty and it's almost akin to Christmas decorations!

I've lived in this neighbourhood for nigh on thirty years but have never seen so much festoonery as this year. Am I missing something?

No-one round here has any Halloween decorations. The next village usually does a Halloween scarecrow trail though, but that will take place during half term.

I'm sure that decorating for all seasons is becoming more and more of a thing.

Shops are selling Autumn and Halloween decorations galore, it's the same at Easter. People follow current trends.

Tbh it wouldn't have occurred to me 10 years ago to de irate the house for Autumn or Halloween but I get easily sucked in. Makes everything feel so special.

I love it but it's still like summer here so feel like it will all be over too quickly this year.

I do! My daughter is excited too! I've got a couple new Halloween decs and I checked out the pumpkins at the supermarket today. It's very very busy with trick o treaters around here.
I love the chill in the air and the leaves, though I noticed a tree that looked lovely last year looks half dead this year.
Christmas we are away, but I'll bring a cake and was wondering earlier if it's too early to buy it (sold out last year).

but it's still like summer here

Where is "here"?
It was warm today, but it still feels very autumnal in Yorkshire.

In London it was 21C, due higher tomorrow and Sunday/Monday. Nights still needing windows open as well.

Absolutely this! I love it! I love the planning and preparation! The darker nights and looking forward to all the fun.

It's the same as being excited for summer holidays and planning and booking for those, or new years parties, or birthdays. It's nice to have something to look forward to and take my mind off other things.

I love it. Pissing it down outside, but making shepherds pie, cup of tea ☕ relax and be cosy on the couch.

No need to be outside in that horrendous weather.

I'm not feeling it tbh. It's pitch black by 8pm and that'll be 7pm in 3 weeks. I'm also dreading having to put the heating on and the big bills 😞💸

I do love autumn the most out of all the seasons, followed by winter then summer. I find Spring quite insipid and depressing personally, but as this thread proves everyone likes different things.

Autumn clothes suit me better, I like that it is dark in the morning and evenings, but I do understand that is coming from a place of privilege - I work from home mostly, and DH does the morning school run. Also we are in the south-east so no real extremes of weather. I work in academia, so autumn is always the start of a new year and I love the feeling that brings. Even pre-children I was a fan of Halloween, and the period between Halloween and Christmas is so busy in a good way with lots of events and social things going on.