Fruitfulness Episode 1 - GLOW

Editor of The Simple Things magazine, Lisa Sykes and Wellbeing Editor Becs Frank light candles, discuss ways to save daylight and keep melancholy at bay, marvel at autumn colours and the science behind them. The kettle’s on, there is a selection of good cake and time to pause for a seasonal short story.

Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

To go:

Westonbirt arboretum – https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretumTo read:

Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An invitation to celebrate every day by Natalie Leon (Watkins Media)

Damn Good Dumplings by Stratis Morfogen (Page Street Publishing)On our blog:

Apple Cinnamon Rose Cake – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/recipe-apple-amp-cinnamon-rose-cake?rq=apple%20cake

Bobbing Apples Cake – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/bobbing-apples-cake?rq=apple%20cake

Nightwalking playlist – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/nightwalkplaylist?rq=NightFrom The Simple Things:

October WEAVE issue – https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things/products/the-simple-things-issue-148-october

November JEWEL issue – https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things/products/the-simple-things-issue-149-november

The Greenhouse gathering featured in our October 2022 issue - 124 (edited) 

Transcript

Lisa Sykes (00:12):

Hi, I am Lisa Sykes, editor of The Simple Things Magazine, and this is the first episode in season four of Our Small Ways to Live Well podcast. Now we've calling this season Fruitfulness for good reason. There's a literal bounty of the harvest to eat and enjoy, but it's also a time to take stock, make plans, and maybe put some good ideas to use. And if you've listened before, you'll know we take a word and a mood for our starting point to plug us into the season. And as always, I'll be joined by colleagues and contributors from the magazine to chat about things to note and do that will help us enjoy this sort of short but sweet season of autumn and perhaps 40 fires for winter. So say hello to our wellbeing editor, Becs Frank, who's with me today for our episode. We're calling Glow and we're making out of the dark afternoon, aren't we, Becs? So we decided to light candles to cheer things up. Have you got yours there, Becs?

Becs Frank (01:01):

Hi there. Yes, I've just got mine lit here. It's a really nice scented candle. It was actually a gift for me and it has fig lime and Tiva. It's a locally made,

Lisa Sykes (01:13):

I don't even know what Tiva is

Becs Frank (01:15):

It is a plant that apparently it will boost their energy, reassure and uplift you. So that's,

Lisa Sykes (01:22):

Are you feeling uplifted?

Becs Frank (01:24):

It's actually, I think the citrus and then also the fig has that lovely kind of feels like being under a tree, fig tree, having a Mediterranean lunch, which quite wish I was doing.

Lisa Sykes (01:34):

No, what I wouldn't give to be doing that right now.

Becs Frank (01:37):

But it's a lovely scent and it's one that I do like to have a scented candle. I particularly like this one, so I thought I'd like this one today.

Lisa Sykes (01:45):

See I like a scented candle and I use one in my kitchen quite a lot, especially if I've been cooking and stuff. But for me it's the flame. I like watching the flames flicker. So I like to light a tall candle. Well more than one usually on your table, but I don't always blow them out at the end of the meal. I just like to leave them sort of flicker in away really. It's just a lovely,

Becs Frank (02:05):

It's lovely, isn't it?

Lisa Sykes (02:06):

Yeah. And of course tea lights, I mean, I know they're probably not the most environmentally sound things because they're disposable, but they are lovely, aren't they? You can't,

Becs Frank (02:14):

Yeah. And I think even if you have a scented candle, sometimes I want more, like you said, I like to see the flame and I like to have the effect of having more than one candle. So I might like one scented candle, which will just give the room, like you said, that lovely scent.

Lisa Sykes (02:26):

I know it's

Becs Frank (02:26):

Nice when you go out of room and you come back in it and you can

Lisa Sykes (02:29):

Yes. That's when you notice it, isn't it? Yeah, definitely.

Becs Frank (02:32):

And then have a few other non centred ones on the mountain piece, but this is a time of year I really go a bit nuts on candles.

Lisa Sykes (02:39):

Well, I think we should invite our readers to actually press pause for a moment, but come back obviously and perhaps light their own candles. So whatever time of day you're listening to this.

Becs Frank (02:49):

Yeah, that's a great idea.

Lisa Sykes (02:50):

We're going to put pictures of ours on the Instagram so you can join us in our lit podcast. I think people fall into two camps when it comes to this season of MTS and mellow fruitfulness. They're sort of team autumn isn't there, who can't wait to don their tights and scarves and make soups and stews and

Becs Frank (03:10):

Buy your boots.

Lisa Sykes (03:11):

And people who are glad the heat and lack of routine and ruin summer are sort of left behind, but not everyone's like that. Maybe you are more a summer's over kind of person. Are you bright colours and the spectacle of autumn don't quite compensate for dark days and long nights.

Becs Frank (03:27):

I think it depends what day you ask me

Lisa Sykes (03:29):

And

Becs Frank (03:29):

A nice bright day. There's a lot to love about autumn, but I do struggle with the darkness when I think it's particularly around this time of year when the clocks change. I do find my mood feels a bit lower and I just find it a bit harder to kind of summon the energy to do things and that's when I mourn the sunshine.

Lisa Sykes (03:47):

Yeah, I think it sounds like you just don't like where it is in the calendar really, do you? Because it's the precursor to winter, isn't it? So there's even more of that.

Becs Frank (03:55):

Do you know what that is? Exactly it. I've often thought that, I think if it came before spring maybe then I'd be just skip winter altogether maybe. Yeah. Or just erase winter,

Lisa Sykes (04:07):

Just reorder it all. You see what I love is any season because I'm always ready for the start of a new season. I'm always fed up with that season by the end of it and ready to move on.

Becs Frank (04:19):

I know what you mean. I

Lisa Sykes (04:19):

Could never live somewhere with the status quo of weather or even if it only had two seasons. I don't know, maybe it's just I'm a bit of a restless person because maybe that's why I edit a monthly magazine at the end of each month they get to do something new again.

Becs Frank (04:34):

Yeah, we talk about the seasons a lot. What would we talk about if we didn't have them? I dunno.

Lisa Sykes (04:39):

But also it's that thing about it does encourage you to live in the moment when you've got this season that won't last longer than a few weeks.

Becs Frank (04:47):

It's true.

Lisa Sykes (04:49):

Yeah, it does make you value what's there right now. Or it should if we take the time to notice it, doesn't it? Yeah.

Becs Frank (04:54):

But I feel like Autumn is a bit too sure in a way. Actually winter comes quite quickly, doesn't it? So I think to talk about is making the most of it as well,

Lisa Sykes (05:03):

Isn't it? Definitely. I mean, I think one of the things that our previous three seasons of the Small Ways to Live Well podcast, I have, this is season four, but the first three actually, you can still download them in case you haven't listened to any of them, but there isn't a season we don't need some help in. I think that's what we've realised, Beck, isn't it?

Becs Frank (05:22):

Yeah, know exactly. There's ups and downs.

Lisa Sykes (05:24):

So even if you do love autumn, yeah, there are low points. And if you do tend to the melancholy at this time of year, there's definitely some simple things to raise your spirits. So we're going to be discussing why a change in energy and pace isn't a bad thing. I think we're here to help, aren't we?

Becs Frank (05:41):

Yes, we are.

Lisa Sykes (05:42):

And actually, so think of this podcast season and the October and November editions of the magazine as a could do list for Autumn. We're going to be releasing an episode every Sunday from this weekend when the clocks go back right through to stirrup Sunday at the end of November when you're going to be invited. And we're going to be mentioning this a few times to join us for a cook along. We're going to be cooking Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes.

Becs Frank (06:04):

I'm really excited about that.

Lisa Sykes (06:05):

And you can cook yours too. I know it could all go horribly wrong, but let's just see

Becs Frank (06:11):

It really could, yeah,

Lisa Sykes (06:12):

See how it works. But we'll post more on that as we go. And don't forget to follow us on your podcast app so you don't miss out. So back to Autumn though, glow. What's the first thing you think of when you think of Autumn Mix?

Becs Frank (06:26):

It's got to be the colour, autumn colours, hasn't it? Yeah. And then if we're talking about Glow, then there you go. I mean, it's got to be nature's finest spectacle, hasn't it? Oh yes. I like that. We're coming out on a Sunday and I hope that people do listen to us and think, actually I'm going to get out. Because I think Autumn for me is all about the weekends really, because the nights are getting darker. So the evenings are a bit out in terms of things to do. So you really have to make the most of it and get out there, make the most of any bright day sunshine. But I mean, even if you don't have the sunshine,

Lisa Sykes (06:58):

Do you have somewhere near you that you like to go where you can see the colours?

Becs Frank (07:02):

Yeah, I mean we've got great walks from the doorstep, but we do always do an annual trip to Western bur Arboretum and

Lisa Sykes (07:08):

Oh, lovely. Yeah,

Becs Frank (07:09):

Yeah, it's great up there. And we take the dogs and we do quite often leave it till the last minute and we intend to go and then things come up and then suddenly we're like, we need to go now before the leaves fall. And then we usually just catch the maples, which are stunning and

Lisa Sykes (07:25):

Nice.

Becs Frank (07:25):

We've seen many, many times. But we do always say it is awesome. It really is. It makes you feel kind of just, I dunno, in awe of this incredible nature that we have.

Lisa Sykes (07:36):

And you're right, and although it is a short season, there's five weekends in November this year, so you've actually got an extra weekend to get out there and enjoy it

Becs Frank (07:45):

Five weekends. So we don't even need to think about Christmas because we, until next month. No, it's great. So we've got five whole weekends in November and get out there and enjoy it.

Lisa Sykes (07:55):

And the thing is, it comes upon us really suddenly, doesn't it? I remember looking out outside on the 1st of October when we started planning this season and it was still all really green, but there was a bit of a nip in the air and darker mornings. But now when the clock's going back, there's leaves swirling around, the colours have changed, and those vivid colours and sunsets, you get in that clarity of light. It's so spectacular. It's

Becs Frank (08:18):

Beautiful, isn't it? Yeah. And the rainbows, have you noticed the rainbows?

Lisa Sykes (08:22):

Yeah. And actually even when it's not clear, it's still beautiful because this morning I walked my dog and it was misty and we've got this lovely piece in the November issue about appreciating fog really, and it's such an underrated thing, but the sun was breaking through this mist and it was so bright, it was just spectacular. And in fact, I didn't do a lot of walking the dog and I just stood there. She didn't know what was going on. I was just standing there letting it all happen around me. And also last night, it was the hunter's moon, the biggest and longest moon of this time of year, isn't it? And wasn't it amazing?

Becs Frank (08:59):

It was amazing. Yeah. I was up really early this morning and I actually got up and went to the bathroom and I thought there was a light on outside. I thought I'd left a light on in the garden and I opened the blind that it was the moon and I was so, so amazed. I went downstairs and actually went outside and had a look at it.

Lisa Sykes (09:15):

Oh, good for you.

Becs Frank (09:16):

And it was incredible.

Lisa Sykes (09:17):

It was still there when I woke up this morning. And I think that's why they call it the hunter's moon because it's obviously good for hunters, the brightest and longest in the sky.

Becs Frank (09:26):

But then we had a very misty morning after that, just like you were describing. And so I was glad I'd seen it because by the time I normally would've got up, I think the mist would've been covering it. But we live at the top of a hill and we quite often have mist and then it's at the top of the hill and then as you drive down, you come out of it. But I love that we've got that piece about mist and appreciating all the different types of weather.

Lisa Sykes (09:47):

Exactly. It is about whatever the weather isn't it, but obviously the colours of the leaves are affected by how the weather behaves because it's temperature and the cooler temperatures and the lack of sun is why you get leaves going red and yellow basically. And we've got a load of science on that in the magazine actually, which is really interesting. But what is even more interesting I think, is that we are actually more attuned to the shades of nature in autumn, apparently.

Becs Frank (10:13):

Yes.

Lisa Sykes (10:14):

There was this research by the University of York that discovered that we perceive the golden colours of autumn more sharply. I mean, we literally sort of get our eye in and they appear sharper because the sky's grayer and the less greenery, but it means we're actually conditioned to appreciate the full spectrum of autumn. So we're wasting it if we don't take time to do that.

Becs Frank (10:35):

That's so interesting. And they do actually get brighter, don't they as well before they die? They're at their brightest, and I like it when, because we get a lot of rain here as well. I love the shiny wet leaves at this time of year when they're really bright.

Lisa Sykes (10:50):

And also you get the glossy berries, don't you? Yes. They're designed by nature to stand out. So like fairy lights, they're orange and red and white and purple black so that birds will eat them.

Becs Frank (11:02):

Yeah, exactly. Attract the birds and that's their phytonutrients. It's in making that colour as well, which makes them get attractive to the birds. And then yeah,

Lisa Sykes (11:11):

But I know you are interested in the Japanese take on this, aren't you? Because

Becs Frank (11:16):

Very interesting.

Lisa Sykes (11:17):

We talked about redleaf hunting in our October issue. We tell me a bit about that.

Becs Frank (11:22):

Yeah, we had a very interesting book in our big idea slot in the October issue called, there's a book called The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally. It's all about how the Japanese, I mean they're sort of known, aren't they, for their blossom, but they actually notice and appreciate all the seasons. And in fact, they used to have 72 micro seasons that each of about five days I think. And just those very small changes would be noted between the seasons. So I think what basically their whole philosophy is about connecting to nature and doing this by noticing, gathering, connecting with all the different changing seasons.

Lisa Sykes (12:00):

So you might have a season called Geese Fly Overhead or something like that. It's really specific, isn't it? Yeah,

Becs Frank (12:08):

Really specific. And then they have some really nice little traditions. So one called Tooma, which is basically a place in your home where you gather and show, collect different things from outside that represent the season.

Lisa Sykes (12:24):

Oh, isn't that lovely?

Becs Frank (12:25):

So we might have an autumn

Lisa Sykes (12:28):

Tooma. Very nice. Yeah. I mean it's kind of a nature table, but it sounds a lot more grownup and special, doesn't it? Yeah,

Becs Frank (12:34):

It's exactly that. Yeah. And we kind of do it a bit probably without really thinking that we're doing it.

Lisa Sykes (12:39):

No, you do. You bring in dried seed heads and things from the garden, don't you?

Becs Frank (12:43):

Yeah, con I still can't resist bringing in con.

Lisa Sykes (12:47):

Yeah, I find them in my pockets at all time of year. I picked them up, they just can't resist. They're like little treasures, aren't they?

Becs Frank (12:53):

They're just too shiny and beautiful, aren't they? And the colour is just too incredible. Definitely. And also what they were saying in this book as well is that by, in doing this, it helps with the transition of the seasons. And if you are someone who finds that your energy levels get affected by the transition between summer and autumn and the darkening of the days, the shortening of the days, then you might find this connecting with the things that you like and you appreciate about the season will help to make that easier.

Lisa Sykes (13:21):

Oh, that's interesting. Yeah. Very good. And redleaf hunting, I don't think I can pronounce this properly, but is it Mommy G?

Becs Frank (13:28):

That's right. Yeah. So you go out and you find the brightest leaves that you can and bring them home.

Lisa Sykes (13:34):

And it's a custom in Japan, right?

Becs Frank (13:36):

It is, yeah.

Lisa Sykes (13:37):

But not just for kids. I mean this is adults do it as well.

Becs Frank (13:40):

Yeah. To bring them home, to put in your ana.

Lisa Sykes (13:42):

Nice.

Becs Frank (13:43):

Have you noticed there's actually a bit of a trend as well for autumn door wreaths as well?

Lisa Sykes (13:48):

Yes.

Becs Frank (13:49):

Have you got any of that going on around you?

Lisa Sykes (13:50):

Yeah. Well, to be honest, I saw some at the farm shop the other day that were all hanging up looking really nice. And I saw the waitress had some as well, so it's obviously a thing, isn't it?

Becs Frank (13:59):

Yeah.

Lisa Sykes (14:00):

To have a wreath on your door,

Becs Frank (14:01):

You could make your own, couldn't you? Very easily with some of your things that you've gathered.

Lisa Sykes (14:05):

Yeah, you could. But I think I prefer A to andana inside and then I can see it rather than show it off to passes by.

Becs Frank (14:12):

Have you had your candle or your candles around your,

Lisa Sykes (14:16):

But not too close to your armour, but, and of course then we're onto Autumn foods, which is the other special thing about autumn, isn't it?

Becs Frank (14:25):

Which you can also go and gather from outside.

Lisa Sykes (14:28):

You could

Becs Frank (14:29):

All the nice autumn fruits.

Lisa Sykes (14:31):

Well, you've got all the apples and berries and yeah, pears. And I suppose most of the apples have already been collected, but I think pears are still harvest time, aren't they? Yeah. One of the things that I would like to do this year, and I haven't done it yet, and the window is closing, but this is the time of year when you're supposed to clean out your greenhouse. Monte Dawn tells us that what we should do at this time of year, and of course,

Becs Frank (14:53):

Well, I don't have one, so that's one job off my list. There you go.

Lisa Sykes (14:57):

But I do have one, and this year it hasn't seen much action, I'm afraid. But it is full of sort of stuff that needs getting rid of.

Becs Frank (15:05):

But

Lisa Sykes (15:05):

What you do is you clean out your greenhouse and you've got a small window before you need to put things in it, like tender plants that you might leave in it over winter so they don't get frost. And this is the time to have a greenhouse feast.

Becs Frank (15:16):

I would love, this is the reason enough for me to get a greenhouse.

Lisa Sykes (15:19):

It's a poor woman's conservatory be. So what you do is you string fairy lights, tiny table and chairs brilliant. And have a name in their, and you don't need to cancel if it rains in your greenhouse

Becs Frank (15:30):

And actually actually be really lovely if it rained, wouldn't it?

Lisa Sykes (15:32):

Yeah, no, it'd actually be really almost fair, wouldn't it? We did one in the magazine, I think it was last year actually. We'll put it in the show notes. And they did have a rather large greenhouse and had dinner for four in it. I think mine would fit too at most, but I really liked that idea. I might try and do that. I think it's something that would be very pleasing, a little greenhouse gathering before winter sets in.

Becs Frank (15:53):

Yeah, very much so.

Lisa Sykes (15:55):

Anyway. Talk to me about food. It always makes me feel hungry.

Becs Frank (15:58):

I'm a sucker for an apple in a cake or pie or a strudel or anything.

Lisa Sykes (16:04):

Tick, tick, tick. Yeah.

Becs Frank (16:05):

Yeah. So we've had some great recipes. I was looking through some past issues and there's, well, in the current October issue, there's the apple cinnamon rose cake, which looks incredible.

Lisa Sykes (16:17):

Oh, and it's so pretty. It looks like a rose.

Becs Frank (16:20):

It looks like a rose or it's like a swir isn't, it's beautiful,

Lisa Sykes (16:23):

But not that hard to make actually.

Becs Frank (16:25):

Kind of like a cinnamon bun crossed with an apple. Yeah, it's kind of like my dream cake. I haven't actually made it yet.

Lisa Sykes (16:32):

And that one's on the blog, isn't it? I think it

Becs Frank (16:34):

Is. Along with one from last year, which was a real favourite of mine, the bobbing apples cake. So where you have the apples, you make the round little piece of the apple within the cake, and that's really cute. And that's also on the blog, but you can just go really simple. There was a great cheats recipe for ginger apple dumplings from a book called Damn Good dumplings, actually

Lisa Sykes (16:53):

Just what it says

Becs Frank (16:54):

Where you just bought the ready-made cro cro on pastry and wrapped the apples in the pastry and then drizzle it with butter and brown sugar and vanilla and bake it. And you just get

Lisa Sykes (17:03):

This. That sounds great.

Becs Frank (17:04):

Sticky, yummy,

Lisa Sykes (17:06):

Sweet. Well fancy that.

Becs Frank (17:07):

Yeah. Treat.

Lisa Sykes (17:08):

And they're all these herbs and well spices really. We tend to think of spices at Christmas, but actually autumn, they go so well with things like apples, don't they? Yeah.

Becs Frank (17:17):

And also it's really good for, I dunno about you, but you can probably hear, I'm just getting over my first cold of the season, so I have been digging out all those healing spices again. So things like the ginger, the cinnamon cardamon, putting them in teas, baking with them, just cooking with garlic and ginger and just get it all in there. It's all good for your antibacterial.

Lisa Sykes (17:38):

Very good. In fact, I think Becks, because it is the season for winter wellness, and I know we're going to talk about that in later episodes. I think you needed to bring us a remedy each week for the rest of the

Becs Frank (17:49):

Podcast. That's a good idea. Well, I enjoy doing that.

Lisa Sykes (17:51):

So we've got something to try. Yes. Yes. So we'll talk about a remedy of the week next time.

Becs Frank (17:57):

Yes. And in the meantime then we could always go back to our hi barnacle, one of our first I think episodes where we talked about

Lisa Sykes (18:03):

That's true. That was season one.

Becs Frank (18:05):

Yeah. Yeah. Where we talked about all our,

Lisa Sykes (18:07):

And we did a lot of things about immunity in that,

Becs Frank (18:10):

The old fashioned remedies. Yeah,

Lisa Sykes (18:12):

Definitely. Yeah, you can download any of those earlier episodes. There's a lot of material in there that is relevant to any time of year actually, isn't there? Yeah, yeah. And I don't think we can talk about this time of year without a mention of all the seasonal traditions. You've got the Halloween, which is probably the most Marmite festivals

(18:29):

And upon us, but then you've got bonfire night or Fireworks, our short story. This episode is actually set at a back garden fireworks party. And I guess regular listeners know that we take a pause in the middle of our podcast to read aloud a short story from our library at the Simple things because we publish one in every single issue and we pick a few favourites to read out. So we're going to do that now. Fireworks night, A short story by Fannie Blake Marnie's hand shook as she planted the Roman candle in the earth. This would be the first gathering she'd held since the divorce. But a promise was a promise when he had gone down with tonsillitis. All 6-year-old Sam wanted for his birthday was a firework party, and she had agreed out of the guilt that came shrink wrapped with her new status of single mother.

(19:28):

His reaction made the promise worthwhile. Since then, not a day had passed without the party being mentioned. Everything was prepared. The smell of baking potatoes filled the kitchen chestnuts and sausages were ready for the barbecue toffee. Apples were standing to attention on a plate. Marshmallows threaded onto skewers fireworks in place above her, the darkness was salted with stars. Occasionally the crack and fizz of a firework broke the piece. Marni pushed back her right sleeve exposing her burn scar to the air. That night from her childhood had been just like this one expectation was running high until a rogue spark had set off the whole pile of fireworks. Marnie had been lucky. A whizzing Catherine wheel had hit her sister on the cheek for a fleeting second. She whisked Roger. Her ex was there to do the honours for her. She banished the thought that life was over.

(20:22):

She would not let fear get the better of her. As she tied the balloons to the front door, she noticed the sign on a new neighbor's window Be safe. Not sorry. Fireworks can kill. Mr. Parker was a killjoy, no doubt about it. Excited. Sam shouted to her from upstairs. Guess what I found. She followed him to his bedroom. Look, she knelt down beside him under the bed cowered Mr. Parker's large white cat. Just then the doorbell rang, cat forgotten. Sam raced downstairs. Marni decided to leave the terrified creature there. She would return him later, soon the party was underway. And the moment Sam had been waiting for approached Marni went to the end of the garden while the rowdier kids were persuaded to sit still on the decking. Her heart was pounding, but she wouldn't disappoint her son. She lit the touch paper of a rocket, then jumped back with a scream.

(21:16):

As the rocket soared over the fence grazing Mr. Parker's roof. Cascades of stars flew into the night the children gasped. A door clicked open and a figure materialised on the other side of the fence. Mr. Parker, Marnie braced herself. That was a bit close for comfort, but he didn't sound angry. I'm so sorry. This is the first time I've done this. She felt stupid and very alone. Are those chestnuts? I can smell. He asked Wistful, but I mustn't hold you up. Have you seen my cat? I'm so sorry. I should have told you. But she gestured towards the party. He's safe under Sam's bed. I'll bring him round later. That's kind. But he didn't move. He was my wife's. He stopped swallowed. Marnie could feel his loneliness. It matched her own sharp and sometimes despairing. No one should feel like that. Why don't you join us? She said The old man's face lit up. Perhaps I could like your fireworks. I know how tricky they can be. I used to, when our children were small, one of my favourite memories, 10 minutes later, a smiling Mr. Parker set off one firework after another. Marni stood with a hand on Sam's shoulder surrounded by his friends and their parents. Their heads all tilted towards a night sky spangled with glitter.

Becs Frank (22:48):

Oh, that's a great story, isn't it? Oh, there's kind of going people together is very much at the heart of simple things, isn't it, Lisa?

Lisa Sykes (22:55):

It really is. And I think even more so as the nights get darker, you kind of want your loved ones close, don't

Becs Frank (23:01):

You? Yeah.

Lisa Sykes (23:01):

You want your favourite people round a table or in front of a fire chatting, telling stories. It's such a nice thing at this time of year.

Becs Frank (23:09):

It's really heartwarming and a reminder to think about your neighbours as well and other people around you. And I do like the celebrations and traditions around this time of year.

Lisa Sykes (23:19):

Yeah, I do. I know it's definitely not sort of a waiting room for Christmas. Is it Autumn? I actually like it in its own Right. But we're going to talk a bit about darkness. Now we, because that is the thing we do find hard. I want to tell people first of all about somebody who's tried to counter this. So we had a reader, Jessica Fer, who contacted us and because a few years ago on this very weekend, she decided not to put her clocks back and she kept her clock on real time. She basically didn't put the clocks back.

Becs Frank (23:50):

So

Lisa Sykes (23:50):

She would keep a real time clock on a computer.

Becs Frank (23:53):

Yeah. Kept summertime, didn't she? Yeah,

Lisa Sykes (23:55):

She kept summertime, but she'd also have another clock just so she didn't miss a meeting or dinner with friends. But basically she operated and now a different from most of the rest of the uk. And she loved it because when the sun was setting about four o'clock, she was already finishing work because for her it was 5:00 PM and it meant she felt her evening wasn't over because she had a little bit of daylight when she finished her job.

Becs Frank (24:19):

Maybe we should try this.

Lisa Sykes (24:20):

Yeah, I really am thinking about doing this.

Becs Frank (24:23):

I think the fact that she'll be going to bed allowed to go to bed an hour earlier as well, won't she? Well up for that.

Lisa Sykes (24:29):

Yes. Yes. Nice. Of course, the drawback you might think is having to get up in really dark because obviously, but she said that what she did is she took her time getting into her day slow coffee, slow stop because she didn't feel like she was wasting daylight because it was still dark and she lights a lot of candles and in the morning as well as the evening. And at the point she made that stood with me. It is worth remembering that time zones are completely made up. What is not made up is the earth spinning around the sun and other seasons and living alongside those in a slightly more natural way is quite an interesting idea, isn't it?

Becs Frank (25:09):

Really interesting. Yeah, we don't need to adhere to it. I might try that a little bit, just have my own version of that. Yeah, might clock off early.

Lisa Sykes (25:18):

I think it's worth trying, isn't it? And seeing how difficult it is. Yeah.

Becs Frank (25:22):

Okay.

Lisa Sykes (25:26):

I think you have to go the whole thing or not at all, not just the good points.

Becs Frank (25:30):

I do really want to go to bed early at this time of year, and I think that's fine. I don't think we should fight that. And you will naturally wake up earlier. But a slow start to the day is a really good idea and it is a bit brutal. It can feel brutal that kind of having to get up and it's cold. It gives you a chance to warm up your house, perhaps light some candles, perhaps listen to some music or do something relaxing. I mean, it sounds a bit like, oh, would anyone really do this? But it's quite easy to do, isn't it? If you have a radio by the side of your bed or your phone, you can just put some nice music on instead of the news and just ease into your day a bit more calmly.

Lisa Sykes (26:08):

For me, the thing I love is coming home as it's getting dark, whether it's the weekend or not, and you've still got lots of evening ahead of you. Yeah,

Becs Frank (26:17):

True.

Lisa Sykes (26:18):

And I know some people don't like that, but for me, of course you get to have an extra meal because you can have tea by the fire because it feels like it's some time proper. And in fact, that is why we have got a autumn tea picnic. It's a living room picnic of autumn tea by the fire.

Becs Frank (26:36):

There is a recipe in that. What a pair and cheese toast.

Lisa Sykes (26:40):

They sound good. In fact, a reader actually got in touch the other day just to tell us that she had made those and they were really good.

Becs Frank (26:46):

Yeah, I have. They are actually delicious. I just think it's sitting by the fire in the late afternoon with one of those. Yeah, that's a reason to love autumn.

Lisa Sykes (26:54):

It is. And sorry, I should have mentioned as well that you can read Jessica's piece about not putting the clocks back in October issue as well. So there's lots going on in there. But the other thing that I did in the autumn tea picnic was the apple ginger fizz and a spiced autumn tea. So a spiced tea, just a little bit of an autumn twist on it.

Becs Frank (27:14):

Yeah, no, exactly. And just what we were talking about earlier, that will be delicious if you are just feeling a little bit coldy as well and a

Lisa Sykes (27:21):

Good

Becs Frank (27:21):

Point. Yeah, that was really, really good drink to have, keep you hydrated. It can make you feel a bit just fatigued and kind.

Lisa Sykes (27:30):

Yeah, coping with darkness is hard, isn't it?

Becs Frank (27:32):

And low, can't it? And I know we have a couple of people in the office, don't we, who do really struggle with the shortening days. So I think it's worth mentioning this because obviously there is SAD, which you will have heard about seasonal affective disorder, and that is an actual depressive disorder, but it does affect up to 5% of people, which is

Lisa Sykes (27:52):

Yeah, it's a fair number, isn't it? Yeah. Not an

Becs Frank (27:54):

Insignificant amount. Is it a fair number in addition to that? There's probably 25% of us get some mild version of the winter blues, which we will feel like a drop in mood or a drop in energy. And that's important to

Lisa Sykes (28:07):

What I find is I get tired much earlier in the winter. If I could, I would go to bed most

Becs Frank (28:12):

Nights,

Lisa Sykes (28:13):

9, 9 30 in the winter. You just feel you want to, don't you?

Becs Frank (28:17):

Maybe you should when you can.

Lisa Sykes (28:20):

Oh, that's an idea. Yeah,

Becs Frank (28:21):

It's when it's kind of stopping you from doing things. If you're sort of feeling like, oh, I can't be bothered to see people go out or feel less. But there are things you can do even to preempt this if you're not feeling it yet. But we're kind of moving into that darker time now. And just getting it sounds obvious, but getting as much light as you can really in the daytime is important. We can't all go for long walks, but everyone can step outside and have a breath of fresh air or a 10 or 15 minute walk.

Lisa Sykes (28:49):

What do you do to get your light?

Becs Frank (28:51):

Well, I do go out because I have dogs to walk, so

Lisa Sykes (28:54):

Of course, me too. Yeah. Yeah,

Becs Frank (28:56):

I do always go out walking every day. But I also, the sun moves around from my house from the front where my office is into the back of the house in the afternoon, and I've noticed my dogs do this. They move to the back of the house and they sit on the sofa, they

Lisa Sykes (29:10):

Follow the sun,

Becs Frank (29:11):

They follow the sun. So I've started doing that a little bit and literally I sunbathe,

Lisa Sykes (29:16):

But

Becs Frank (29:16):

It's really, really nice sunbathing through the window that warm. It's called electricity, isn't it? The warmth and sunlight through I love

Lisa Sykes (29:25):

That word.

Becs Frank (29:26):

Yeah. The warmth of the winter sunshine.

Lisa Sykes (29:28):

Yeah. I do something similar. It's more, I've got a chair in our London that looks to the west and we've got a big window and it's just always been my favourite place in the afternoons. And I often decamp to work there in the afternoon, and I've got bookshelves on the landing as well. So I sort of pretend it's a library.

Becs Frank (29:49):

It's a good thing for reading,

Lisa Sykes (29:51):

But it's feeling that sun on your face.

Becs Frank (29:53):

Yeah, no, it's

Lisa Sykes (29:55):

In the afternoons is treasure.

Becs Frank (29:57):

It's

Lisa Sykes (29:57):

A treasure thing, isn't it? Yeah,

Becs Frank (29:59):

It's a treasure thing. And I do sometimes find my eyes closing, I have to admit.

Lisa Sykes (30:02):

Oh yeah, no, I could definitely snooze there, I'm

Becs Frank (30:04):

Sure. Yeah. But even on a cloudy day. So light is measured in luxe, a measurement called lux and

Lisa Sykes (30:10):

Oh, I didn't know that.

Becs Frank (30:11):

Yeah, so basically there's this sort of interesting thing. Even on a cloudy day, the light intensity will be about a thousand looks. And the light insider, a lit office would be about 300 to 500. So that's why Yeah,

Lisa Sykes (30:28):

Gosh. So more than, well three times the light

Becs Frank (30:32):

At an average office

Lisa Sykes (30:34):

By going outside, even if it's closed Cloud D, so Well that's an absolute must to go outside then, isn't it? Yeah.

Becs Frank (30:40):

So you don't think, oh, it's not a very nice day. There's no point going out. There's always a point to going out. I mean a light box by contrast. So if you ask someone who suffers with SAD or quite severe debilitating symptoms of the seasonal change, a light box has 10,000 looks. So that's why it does really help people.

Lisa Sykes (30:59):

So that's seriously. Yeah.

Becs Frank (31:00):

Yeah. But there were just some nice little tips as well, things like noticing dawn and dusk if you are. I mean, a lot of us are awake for dawn at this time of year, aren't we? And just observing that, looking out the window or stepping outside and the same again in the later day.

Lisa Sykes (31:18):

Being there at the start, being present at the start of the day. Yeah,

Becs Frank (31:21):

Yeah. Helps your body to adjust to the time it makes you feel sleepier in the evening. But light effects all sorts of things from your mood to your sleep, to your appetite. So it's something.

Lisa Sykes (31:31):

And there's rituals you can do at the end of the day as well, isn't it, to help you sleep.

Becs Frank (31:36):

Yeah.

Lisa Sykes (31:37):

We think because it's darker, we'll sleep well, but it doesn't always work like that, does it?

Becs Frank (31:41):

The temptation is just to sort of put the tele on and slump on the sofa, isn't it?

Lisa Sykes (31:44):

Yeah.

Becs Frank (31:45):

In these sort of dark evenings and if you're not going out or doing anything. But I think if you can do some other things that would make you just, I dunno, use your time slightly differently. Maybe have a bath, maybe go for a night walk if you haven't managed to do it in the day or anyway. We've did a great piece on night walking, haven't we? Is that in the October issue as well?

Lisa Sykes (32:06):

And the guy who wrote this for us, he leads them in these sort of organised night walks in Galloway where they notice the creatures and talk about the dark skies and the

Becs Frank (32:16):

Skywalk, the bats and the different night creatures,

Lisa Sykes (32:19):

Stars in the sky. But he also recommended the playlist. He plays music as people are doing this. So we publish a playlist in every issue of the mag, but this time we've used his one. So you could download that on Spotify if you want to have a

Becs Frank (32:32):

Listening, take it on your night walk. And that thing when you are out walking at night as well is I like looking in and noting the buyers and the lights and the glowing windows of other people's houses. It's really nice, isn't it?

Lisa Sykes (32:42):

If you're walking down the street just before people close their curtains.

Becs Frank (32:45):

It's like

Lisa Sykes (32:46):

Theatre, isn't it?

Becs Frank (32:47):

Yeah. And you can smell the wood burners, you can smell smoke. It's nice. Yeah,

Lisa Sykes (32:52):

It is really good. And what about if it's really hard to get up in the mornings? I think you do really struggle with that, don't you? At this time of year?

Becs Frank (33:01):

I do find it hard, and I'm quite an early bird as well, but just I think doing things the night before to be ready for the morning. So you're not

Lisa Sykes (33:09):

So you've got less to do. Yeah. So you've

Becs Frank (33:10):

Got less to do and you can just do nice calm things. So if you are making a pat lunch, for example, make it the night before, perhaps have a bath the night before, get things ready and then in the morning you can just take it easy.

Lisa Sykes (33:24):

I like to listen to music in the morning. I have my radio set, classical music to come on rather than news or can you imagine anything worse than getting the bad news of the world the moment you wake up?

Becs Frank (33:36):

But I think that's the reality for most people. If you reach over and get your phone and switch it on or turn the radio on.

Lisa Sykes (33:43):

No, I like to come to with a bit of nice music and then you find yourself waking up sort of more gradually rather than a bit of a start.

Becs Frank (33:51):

Exactly. You could do a nice breathing exercise. In fact, you could do a breathing exercise at nighttime and in the morning and that'd be a nice,

Lisa Sykes (33:59):

I feel you're going to do something with me now, aren't you? You're going to tell me what to do. What sort of breathing exercise do we do then?

Becs Frank (34:05):

Well, we could do the one that's really quick and simple is the 4, 4, 8 breath.

Lisa Sykes (34:10):

Okay.

Becs Frank (34:11):

So you're going to breathe in for four, hold it for four, and then exhale four. So do you want to give it a go? Yeah, go on, give it for a go. So breathe in for four, hold four, and then to exhale slowly. This is quite hard.

Lisa Sykes (34:26):

I think you went a little bit quick on the exhale there. I'll do that again.

Becs Frank (34:29):

I think that was about a two exhale. Try again. Oh, that was better.

Lisa Sykes (34:42):

I feel like I'm really pushing it out by the end. Yeah, it's quite

Becs Frank (34:45):

Hard, isn't it? It's quite hard to exhale. So as much as you can manage. But the point is you're elongating the exhale, which is what calms down the nervous system.

Lisa Sykes (34:56):

Do you do that several times then to sort of just,

Becs Frank (34:59):

Just do that

Lisa Sykes (34:59):

Ground? You

Becs Frank (35:00):

Just do that a few times. Do it three times or do it once if that's all you've got time for. And basically inhaling raises the heart rate a bit and exhaling calms you down. And so that will help you sleep, but also help you in the morning.

Lisa Sykes (35:14):

Well there we go then. So I'm not putting my clocks back. I'm doing the four eights breathing technique and I'm eating ginger dumplings. Oh yeah. That's my little intention for, and

Becs Frank (35:25):

Lots of things by the fire.

Lisa Sykes (35:28):

Definitely. But actually next week Becks and our colleague Joe will be back and they'll be talking about lots more reasons to love November. Our new November issue has just gone on sale and it's full of the riches of the season. So don't forget to follow us on your podcast app and then you won't miss an episode. And thanks very much. Be so always full of good advice. And you'll be back next week, right? Yeah. See you next week. Thanks for listening.