Kate’s Autumn Feels

Autumn for me means Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, cosy nights in with candles burning and watching the trees change colour. I spent years confined either to my bed, or my bedroom, but I have a beautiful view out of my window and love watching the leaves change. It’s almost like having a new painting each day and helped get me through some difficult times. Now my health is more stable, I try to adventure out when I can, but sometimes this can be challenging.

Accessible Season

You don’t realise how many everyday activities are inaccessible until you have a disability. Autumn used to be about getting my wellies on and crunching through leaves, but now I focus on how slippery they’ll be underneath my wheelchair tyres. I certainly don’t let my disability stop my fun and try to do as many ‘normal’ activities as I can. As I say to most people, it’s all about adapting and that’s what I did with this month’s activity…Pumpkin Picking!

Pumpkin Picking

Our local farm, Brocksbushes, have a pumpkin picking event. For £2 entry, you have access into their field and have a choice of hundreds of pumpkins. I went with my good friend, Hannah, who was also doubling up as my carer/ photographer/ all-around gem for the day. Thankfully, the event had limited tickets so everyone was spaced out and being outdoors anyways, I felt safe. It’s never going to be the most accessible event, being in a field and we only got a few metres in before I dug my powerchair into the mud! But, we had a good hour of laughs, photographs and I chose some cute pumpkins which now remind me of all our fun.

Halloween Activities

For many, Halloween is going to be celebrated at home this year. I have a 6-year-old nephew who loves Halloween, so I’ve been thinking of some ways we can celebrate whilst staying safe at home. I’ve put together 5 ideas of celebrating Halloween at home with a little (or not-so-little!) one:

1) Decorate the house – An obvious one but it makes a difference! I have bought some pumpkin fairy lights from B&M, some Autumnal candles from TK-Maxx and, of course, my pumpkins!

2) Movie Night – Grab some spooky treats and snuggle up to watch a Halloween themed movie – I highly recommend ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’.

3) Spooky Baking – You can buy plain cupcakes, plain doughnuts or Halloween kits and create some spooky treats.

4) Glow in the dark treat hunt – If you have a garden, attach sweets to a glowstick and hide around your garden. You have a spooky treat hunt!

5) Pumpkin Carving – Once you’ve got your pumpkin, there’s plenty of ideas online as to how to carve or decorate it.

I hope you’re staying safe and warm, and if you celebrate it, have a Happy Halloween!