Bake Off inspiration is piece of cake in November cold

Here are some phrases people have said to me over the past week: “Can you believe it? November already... it’ll fly by now ’til Christmas.” “Aren’t these dark mornings awful?” “I’m glad I did all my Christmas shopping in the Spring sales.” “I can’t bear fireworks – my dog goes bonkers”.

People, please. November happens every year. Let’s get a grip before we all do something silly – like booking a holiday to the sun we can’t afford.

It’ll be OK, we’ll get through it together – with the help of my handy cut-out-and-keep guide:

This is the ideal time of year to pretend that in the run-up to Christmas, we’ll get all Kirstie Allsopp and handmake all gifts and decorations, as we have plenty of time and energy to do so.

We may even buy special baskets and raffia string for the purpose of saving money by making things, before realising several weeks hence that there is no time left to be faffing about with glue and desperately ordering costly stuff online instead.

There is no better time of year for telly-watching. And let’s face it, this is the ideal time for slumping in front of the telly, what with the weather and darkness etc. The Little Drummer Girl, Strictly, new House of Cards. Fill your boots.

If, like the occupants of Penman Towers, you have hidden from the hordes of trick-or-treaters postempty nest, you may find there is a stash of goodies hidden away for emergencies that now needs eating.

What better than slumping in front of the telly with the type of sweeties you last enjoyed in the 70s? Drumstick lolly, anyone?

Following the Bake Off final and our collective outpouring of “Oh bless...” towards the winner, the lovely Rahul, now is the time to be inspired and do proper baking and making from scratch.

If nothing else, there is the chance it will somehow make us better people. If Bake Off has taught us anything, it is that only lovely people get so worked up about cakes. You’re welcome.

This is the ideal time of year to pretend that in the run-up to Christmas, we’ll get all Kirstie Allsopp and handmake all gifts