I love November there is so much to do. It is the month when everything seems to liven up in the community. The sports fields look at their best for the beginning of summer cricket. The swimming pools have re-opened, gardens are looking splendid with roses.The last frosts have gone and keen gardeners have already planted out vegetables. The hum of mowers has become a familiar weekend sound too. The sun isn’t setting till after the evening meal because of daylight saving. This is a great month to be outdoors.

I love to be outside in the early morning and also in the dusk. Mornings are always busy in families with children, but just to get into the fresh air is a great way to reduce stress. When I’m trying to hurry everyone along and the clock seems to be racing, going out and pulling a few weeds or snipping off some deadheads, or watering the new petunias gives me a more relaxed start to the day.

I’m not much good at waiting around and never have been. I’m a doing person, not a waiting one. As a baby standing in my cot waiting for the afternoon nap time to end, I made a hole in the mosquito net so that I could look out. There wasn’t enough to do in my bed. As a school child at the end of the day I couldn’t dawdle along with the group. I wanted to run or skip. Luckily I had one friend who liked to hurry down the path with me. As an adult I still find it hard to walk beside a slow walker or wait in the bathroom while the child I’ve called to have her hair done finishes a game. The best solution for me is to go outside and look round there is so much to see and so many tiny jobs that can take only a minute to do. November is a great month to be doing things.

Tags: environment, nature, outdoor activities