Welcome to October

A photo of some trees turning yellow in Shelf Hall Park near Halifax in October 2018.

Well, it’s October now – which means three quarters of the year has gone. We’re past my busiest month at work, now that the university term has started again. It’s also Black History Month in the UK, for which this year’s theme is Reclaiming Narratives.

Also, it’s International Raccoon Appreciation Day today, according to some web sites that seem to only exist to tell you what is observed on each day of the year.

It’s definitely getting colder now. We relented and switched our heating back on last month, after what seems to have been a particularly cold September. The days where we can use less than £2 of grid electricity and gas are behind us now until May next year – not least because energy prices went up by 10% today.

Speaking of cold, our household is also starting the month with colds. Kids going back to school, and the dreaded Freshers’ Flu at universities mean that we’re all a little under the weather. At least I get my annual flu vaccine this week.

I’ve had my first (and second, and third) Pumpkin Spice Latte, and family plans for Christmas are starting to be drawn up. And I’m sure our eight-year-old will end up doing something for Halloween. I’m sure there’ll be days out (when we’re feeling better) but I’m not sure where and when yet.