The days are getting colder, the leaves are turning yellow and amber and falling, and the dark nights creep ever closer. Autumn is my favourite season for the colours and the cosy vibes, and I am determined to take advantage of both.
Wandering in the Woods at Gibside
‘Not all those that wander are lost.’
That is certainly true for my recent venture up to Gibside, which turned a crisp morning into a proactive walking adventure. With my wellies in tow, I embraced my inner child and went off to jump in muddy puddles and wander. Without worrying about how far I had gone, or which direction I would turn next, I let myself only think of my surroundings. I took in the coloured carpet of leaves as they turned from yellow, to orange, to brown, listened to the scurry of birds and squirrels in the trees, and found comfort in the sounds of nature. I have said this before, but there is peace in the aimlessness of it all. Walking amongst the leaves, I felt the same pumping contentment I do in a concert, music beats thundering in place of your heartbeat – but this time crunching stomps and bird calls replacing the thumps. It’s a sharp contrast of busyness and peace all at once.
Staples of Gibside include the Chapel, which is framed by autumn trees on either side, and the Column of Liberty which can be seen for many miles through the Derwent and Tyne valleys. The history of Gibside is a rich one, and you can immerse yourself in the history of the Bowes family legacy whilst there as well.
Come the winter as well, Gibside is transformed for the Christmas season, with the chapel wrapped in lights, a magical trail of wintery stars leading to the stables where Father Christmas keeps his reindeer, and many more. These events run from late November to January so be sure to check them out.
(Pictured: The Chapel at Gibside in the background, with autumnal leaves in the foreground. This was taken during a moment of catching my breath, sitting with a picnic blanket and a book. Reading with an autumnal view!)
Colourful Sights – The Northern Lights
This year we have been graced with multiple opportunities to see the Northern Lights, and whilst I missed the first few throughout the summer, I was lucky enough to see the most recent one. When I realised, I took a blanket out into the back garden, lay back and marvelled at the very soft hues in the sky, the phone camera bringing the colours out into richer pinks and greens. Whilst my view was a subtle one, there were more artistic hues across the region, I was just glad to witness it. To lie there and be utterly in awe. The Northern Lights are a reminder to look up and to know that there is always beauty in the darkness. There is so much out there that we can explore, and we are privileged to do that.
(Pictured: The sky lit up in pink and soft green, speckles of stars amongst it all. The Northern Lights are truly a sight to behold.)
Cosy Vibes
But with darker nights comes the feeling of nestling down into comfort, listening to the splatter of rain against the windows, and preparing for the holidays.
This time of year brings a whole host of activities to the region. To name a few: firework displays, nativities, wreath making and bauble designing classes – I’ve booked onto one at No.6 Coffee House in December, for example – to the Northern Lights Newcastle light trail in Leazes park. You may want to venture out and fill your nights with those, or you may want to stay away from the darkness and the cold and settle in.
Wind up that comfort TV show or a beloved book, cosy up to the fire with hot chocolate and fuzzy pyjamas, and that is your adventure.
It reminds me that comfort can come just as easily as discomfort, and these darker nights can lead to SAD syndrome – Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is heightened feelings of lowness and anxiety brought on by the weather.
To combat the winter blues, you can:
Connect with those around you and keep in touch – you aren’t alone, and socialisation can be just enough to recharge you for a while. Keeping in touch with your favourite people is a huge help to any low mood.
Breaking down problems into small segments – break down plans and issues into smaller, easier-to-manage bites and deal with them one at a time. Routine and planning help for me, including to-do lists, but I know these can get overwhelming for some people. I use the self-care app Finch to tick off and reward myself for daily goals – some of which can just be taking three deep breaths.
Light therapy – this is bringing the light back into your dark home through artificial lighting, for example light-up alarm clocks that stimulate lighter mornings. Or take advantage of the lighter days as much as possible by being active and immersing yourself in nature.
All in all, the darker days are here and with this type of weather being more commonplace than the warmer summer heat, it’s important to both take advantage and protect ourselves from it. From exploring new walks, new events and new adventures, you can also remember to slow down, take a breath and just relax, embracing the cold and dark for what it is.
