…no fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds…November.
But Mr Thomas Hood, dear poet, may I also remind you that whilst lacking in very many areas, November does boast quite a lot to be happy about: Fireworks, toffee apples, golden leaves, crisp mornings, the first frost, knitted scarves, hot soup and many other joys that make me feel all cosy inside.
Food is actually what keeps me going most through these rather chilly (and at the moment, very grey) days. From homemade soup in a Thermos flask to poring over the Christmas edition of Bon Appetit, food is definitely my autumn fuel.
That, and food markets, with a good friend. In particular, Borough Market: quite possibly the epitome of every foodie’s dream; pickles, bread, cakes, coffee, fruit, ostrich meat, spices and so much more all piled under one big iron bridge…oh, with testers too. So that little outing, along with a trip to a deliciously authentic Chinese restaurant where you can buy 10 plump dumplings for £3.00, kicked off my autumn nicely.
There’s also been bread making this autumn. Flour, yeast and kneading in the middle of university life. It’s almost like homemade carb therapy for a tired student soul.
I should also mention that there’s been chocolate fondue, with new friends…and a new pet.
Guy Fawkes Night was spent at home with my new friend from uni, Galina. As she’s an international student from Singapore she’d never ventured into the wilds of the English countryside before, so I brought her back home with me (rather like you would a lost puppy) and showed her the delights of living ‘in the sticks’.
We unfortunately didn’t get to see any fireworks displays on Saturday, but we did have sparklers…well my nephew did anyway, but he wasn’t too enthusiastic about sharing.
Hot chocolate and cold hands were the two main theme of Sunday with a trip to Southwold, to share the utter posh delightfulness of an English seaside town with Galina. It was a lovely day, finished off perfectly with an afternoon tea round my Aunty’s and a catch-up with family.
So that brings us on to this grey Monday afternoon and the beginning of baking reading week, which basically means five more days at home practising the art of doing nothing
Oh cold and grey autumn day, you are the only reason I’m cuddled up in my warm living room after eating home made soup for lunch. The reason I’m about to watch the Polar Express for the thirty thousand and sixth time, and finally the reason why I’m happily munching on a ‘s’mores cupcake’: a cake topped with marshmallowy Italian meringue, digestive biscuit crumbs and a chunky piece of chocolate. Perfect for pretending you’re toasting marshmallows in front of a cosy open fire; wearing your finest pair of woolly socks as well of course.
To The Table 
Hot marshmallow dripping on my shoes, there’s nothing quite like smores by the campfire.
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Good morning Alice, What a lovely picture you paint of “back home” we had our own bonfire here on the farm, had been pruning the trees in the nursery and raked a huge pile of brabches & leaves together, with a “pommie” couple here we lit it up and yes, it was still Guy Fawkes day with you although the next day here but that was good enough. Fireworks are banned here in Qld, and I forgot the sparklers , left it to late to roast the spuds in the ashes for dinner but did bring back some memories. Our pommie friend Jean is a “cookie” lady like you so we are of to town to get the ingredients to make the ‘S’more cupcakes they sound and look delicious. November here has been very hot and humid, a threat for a stinking hot Summer already.What do I miss aboiut a English November ? the turning of the leaves into most amazing colours, warm coal fires with flames racing up the chimmney, lovely dark ‘cuddle-up’ evenings, But here we have it 5 am. the sun already up quite high with the ducks,Geese & Chooks squarking.”get out of bed it’s time we were fed” and so another day begins. Lovely to hear from you again. keep cooking and keep writing. Take care, Luv Auntie Pauline
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Oh, you make life on your farm sound so lovely! Right now an Australian summer’s day sounds very nice…although of course, despite being mostly grey and cold, autumn here does have something cosy and warm about it. You should definitely bake the s’mores cupcakes; they went down very well at Auntie Jane and Uncle Paul’s little afternoon tea on Sunday. Take care and thank you for reading. Alice x
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Right. Yes, I definitely do love your blog !! I really like the way you write and, huge plus, you actually make me want to start cooking proper food, instead of the salmon or chicken fillet I’ve been eating for more than a year now… Well done again 😉
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Thank you so much! It’s really quite difficult cooking decent food at uni, and I can tell you, there have been many super noodle days!
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Just remember I taught you everything you know Alice! xx
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