Can I join you? I do love autumn, but I get absolutely wicked SADS, which is largely helped by keeping busy, eating well, and doing things. Last year was the best winter ever - my DD was just hitting the older baby/toddler stage, and we had a delightful round of toddler groups and coffee mornings on the go. I'm in mourning for it, frankly, it was probably one of the nicest winters of my life. I'm absolutely dreading this year, the clock is ticking until I go back to work (three days in a school) nothing has reopened and started up yet really xand it's all just miserable. I'm making notes, because I've decided the only way I can get through until next spring is by meeting it head on- I'm going to decorate the house, get all the scented candles out, do all the pumpkin themed crafts with toddler DD as we'll be stuck so much at home, lots of crunchy leaved walks, the lot.
I'm currently absolutely skint, but making lists of things I want to get next payday - a really good, bombproof puddle suit for DD for instance, some nice autumny garlands, craft supplies, lovely spiced teas, a small flask for our walks. I know it sounds silly, but I've coped very well with lockdown, despite being at home with a toddler and DH doing 12 hour shifts on the front line - but this past week I have just fallen to bits as the clock ticks closer to this awful "new normal", my return to work and the dark nights - this thread has been like a comforting, pumpkin scented hug!