AND suddenly it’s autumn. September. The kids are back in class. Uniforms fresh, clean and pressed.

Roads swollen once more with school-run traffic.

A nip in the air, the leaves on the trees a deeper colour than in August.

Wasn’t the worst summer we’ve had, weatherwise. Some nice spells here and there, moments to don shorts and sandals, light the barbie.

But last week I swear someone flicked the big ‘September’ switch.

I like the summer. I like balmy evenings, the heatwaves, the predictable but strangely comforting ‘Phew! What a scorcher!’ tabloid headlines.

But if I was dangled from the top of Blackpool Tower and had to choose, I’d have to admit I love it when it gets to September and autumn. 

I like the darker evenings closing in, the gradual snuggling up to Halloween, Bonfire Night and… dare I say it?... Christmas. Perhaps it’s my favourite season. I was born in September. So perhaps there’s something comforting to me about this time of year.

Psychologists might say it’s because autumn has a womb-like quality to it. That’s true. It is a very cosy time of year.

It’s when you start wearing warmer clothes, dig out the scarves, the gloves and perhaps even a warm hat. Put on your favourite heavy coat.

It’s the time of year when you start lighting your coal fire or putting on the central heating at night. 

The heavier duvet comes out.

You can drink Horlicks or Ovaltine before bed without being considered weird.

Rather than chilled lager it’s time to take a pint of Guinness or a goblet of a rich, full-bodied red wine.

Instead of salads and grilled chicken, it’s time to start ladling up hearty, piping-hot bowls of stew, hotpot and steaming soup and broth. Telly improves too. 

All the major channels unveil their big gripping dramas, although it does mean the return of stuff like X Factor and Strictly (a personal bias, so apologies if you like those).

Going to football also means the Thermos is put to good use once more (with accompanying choccie biccie), so another thing to look forward to. 

Well, this season I’ll be on the touchline watching my son play for Appleton Boys, watching Warrington Town’s progress (new league, shaky so far), and hopefully take my Liverpool-mad son to his first home match at Anfield.

Here are some more reasons I’m going to enjoy autumn:
Those mornings when mist hangs over fields (best viewed from a train as it thunders past).

Country lanes and paths carpeted in crispy red fallen leaves, acorns and conkers.

And, perhaps best of all… an extra hour in bed when the clocks go back.

All excellent reasons to celebrate the arrival of autumn.