AUTUMN

I have a thing for middle children. Both my parents, many of my close friends and my partner are all wedged between older and younger siblings. Maybe, being a firstborn, I feel compassion for those who have endured decades of our unshakeable ‘we’re not bossy, we’re only acting in your best interests’ philosophy to life. But just so we’re clear: we’re not bossy. And while you’re here, are you sure you don’t want to defect to my phone plan or my hairdresser?

My affinity for defending the honour of middle children also extends to the seasons, where autumn has it pretty bad. It’s sandwiched between summer and winter, which, as we know, are massive attention-seekers. They dazzle us with hot beach days and the pitter-patter of rain outside while we slurp hot minestrone soup inside. It’s all very romantic.

Meanwhile, there’s spring, which technically could also be classified as a middle season, but it has an advantage that’s hard to ignore: it’s the better-looking sibling, with flowers blooming everywhere. Spring is also confident – it knows exactly who it is: the patron of new beginnings and life! It’s a lot to live up to. Even as I’m typing this, I feel intimidated by the charm and competence of spring.

Autumn, on the other hand, is a little awkward – it’s warm, it’s chilly, it’s windy, it’s sunny. Or maybe autumn is just a hard-working diplomat? A season where no temperature or wardrobe item is off limits. In autumn, it’s best to dress like a lasagne and layer up. You leave the house in a winter coat, turtleneck and beanie you’re still not quite sure you can pull off. Ten minutes later, you’re lugging all three over your arm like you’re

searching for a change room in a busy department store. This is why you should always travel with a dependable deodorant in autumn – when your body is hiding under five items of clothing, you really do work up a sweat.

Autumn works hard to create a seamless transition between extreme weather conditions. It accepts the burden of appearing indecisive about the weather for the good of its seasonal siblings, summer and winter. Autumn wants us all to get along and shine brightly. Which brings us to: the glare. In autumn, everything is a tiny bit more orange than usual, from the crunchy, luminous leaves to pumpkin patches ready for harvest. Pop on some sunglasses and enjoy the brief moment in adulthood when it’s encouraged to behave like a child and stomp through crunchy leaves that crowd the footpath. Hearing that crackle hit your shoe brings the same joy as tapping a crème brûlée with the back of a spoon, but with less tooth decay.

While autumn allows trees and pumpkins to burst with colour, the season isn’t only about the good stuff. Again, just like your favourite affable middle child, autumn will volunteer to do the work others prefer not to, just to keep the peace. It’s autumn that is happy to be associated with the end of daylight savings, when the days get shorter and the nights get longer.

Being stuck inside is not ideal; but don’t worry, because this season, unlike the others, dominates the interiors world, which is known for its ‘autumnal tones’. You can bring a bit of autumn magic indoors – a small victory when you consider no other season has a paint colour section at the local hardware store. That’s the thing about autumn: it’s a quiet overachiever. We’re always so eager to start and finish things, but when you take the time to soak up the middle, you might be surprised what you discover.