Autumn obsessions

Yes I am cheating my way out of monthly obsession posts

You may have noticed (you probably haven’t, my Substack isn’t on your mind too much I don’t suppose) that I missed doing a September and October obsessions post. This didn’t sit well with me for a while, because I am nothing in this life without consistency, but I just wasn’t feeling the love or inspiration for this style of post anymore. So, as a compromise, I have written about the things I’ve loved through autumn. This isn’t hard at all because if you know me, you’ll know this is my favourite time of year. If you’re not a lover like I am, I hope this post can help sway your opinion slightly.

Watching Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night

I’ve always loved Strictly - but in years gone by I was one of those who had to watch most (if not every) episode hungover in bed on a Sunday morning. This, I realise, is not the optimum way to watch Strictly. I’ve turned 25 and with that become what some would call boring, whilst others would argue I’m right on the money. I will be with friends and their families, under a blanket, in front of a fire watching Strictly every week without fail. There’s something so much more enjoyable watching it live, yapping through the training VTs -because honestly who cares? And getting to react to the scores and judges’ comments in real-time. ‘God, I wouldn’t have put her in that outfit, doesn’t his bum look lovely, YES THE HIPS, GO ON THE HIPS. SWIVEL…. SWIVEL MORE.’ It’s nice to see others being judged for their dancing on a Saturday night - Lord knows I’ve done my time.

Baking and then dishing out said bakes to whoever will take them

I’ve had more free time recently since going freelance and I’ve filled a lot of it with baking. I’ve made all sorts over the past few months. Lemon drizzle cake, triple chocolate chip cookies, chocolate and banana cake, a birthday cake -which will not be discussed because the disastrous 3-hour long decorating session drove me to a migraine and had me reaching for the Deep Heat (yes, I am that unfit). However, all the bakes have been very successful and I’ve loved dishing them out to anyone I can. Taking them to my friend’s football games as attendance motivation for us girls on the sidelines, offering them as thanks to friends who have helped me out in some way. It’s just NICE and it makes me feel good. Send ideas my way, please!

Watching sexy Cotswold’s TV drama (yes, Rivals… obviously)

I’m convinced they made the new TV show Rivals for me. Cue my fascination with Jilly Cooper’s entire life and work because it seems she is completely up my street. Or I am up her street should I say. I think she invented the street. If the street in question houses high society heartthrobs, wisdom, wit and intimacy.

What is not to love about an eight-part TV drama with a fantastic 80s soundtrack, an incredible cast, and a plot that follows romance and feuds set in the Cotswolds? Can’t get enough. Might have to rewatch and it’s only been a few weeks. I will like every fan edit I see on TikTok. I fancy every single person on that show. Danny Dyer - I never thought it could be you, but it’s you. David Tennant they could never make me hate you (but I very nearly did). It made me angry, it made me aroused, it made me laugh. Everything you could want - season two I’m waiting.

Please enjoy the below extract from an interview Jilly Cooper did recently with Vogue that I think is hilarious and delicious in equal measure.

“It’s not surprising to me that gen Z recently voted the ’80s as the best time to live through. Today there seems to be far less bonking. Everyone seems to expend their energy in the gym or jogging round and round the country. So many couples meet online now, which is far less spontaneous and exciting than the wild office parties and dances of the old days when everyone was getting off with everyone. Or when on “some enchanted evening you would see a stranger across a crowded room” and you’d end up snogging his face off rather than exchanging numbers to text one another later.”

Drinking chai lattes… and hot chocolates…. and hot chocolate with chai spice mix in them

I had my first chai latte experience this autumn and it’s monumentally changed things for me. What do you mean there’s a Christmassy-tasting drink that has little to no caffeine in? And it’s nice? Splendid, give me 14 of them. And also thank you Em for introducing the idea to me of adding the chai spice mix I have at home into my nightly Cadbury hot chocolate. Every. Evening. Without fail.

Running… taking the piss now Tiegs??

Me and running have a love-hate relationship. Currently, it’s love! I’ve started a 10km run plan on the Nike Run Club app with some of the girls and we’re managing to keep morale up for the time being. Granted it’s early days so the runs on the plan aren’t too physically challenging - but strap in it’s about to get harder. We did a park run last week and I enjoyed every second of it. This one didn’t feel like I was on the brink of death like they have done previously. We laughed the whole way round, listening to rock music and wearing matching Guinness tops we got free from the pub the night before. Arguably more fun than night outs I’ve been on lately. I never thought I’d say that. What is happening to me now I’m 25?