Celebrating The Arrival Of Autumn š
- Simon O'Donovan
- Sep 2
- 11 min read
Updated: Sep 3
"Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple." J.K. Rowling
āI hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift.ā Dodinsky
This week's CST activities centres around the theme of Autumn, as September has arrived. Also fast approaching are the Autumnal equinox, which takes place this year on 22nd September.
THINGS THAT REMIND US OF AUTUMN
Before looking at the lists below, you could ask for suggestions and promote discussion ...
š Good Things About Autumn
Beautiful scenery: Trees turn stunning shades of red, orange, and gold.
Crisp, fresh air: Cooler temperatures make walks and outdoor activities refreshing.
Comfort foods & drinks: Soups, pies, pumpkin spice, mulled cider, and hot chocolate come into season.
Festive atmosphere: Harvest festivals, Halloween, and the build-up to the holidays.
Cozy vibes: Perfect for warm blankets, candles, and snug evenings indoors.
Less heat: Relief from the intense summer sun and humidity.
Wildlife activity: Animals gather food, birds migrate ā nature feels alive.
Fashion: Layering with sweaters, scarves, and boots becomes stylish and practical.
Sunlight quality: Golden, soft light makes mornings and evenings especially beautiful.
š Bad Things About Autumn
Shorter days: Less daylight, with darkness creeping in earlier.
Chilly weather: The drop in temperature isnāt enjoyable for everyone.
Rain and dampness: More frequent showers and muddy conditions.
Leaves everywhere: Beautiful at first, but can become slippery, messy, and require cleanup.
Cold & flu season: Greater chance of catching seasonal illnesses.
Transition blues: Some people feel low energy or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as sunlight decreases.
Unpredictable weather: Can switch quickly from sunny to stormy.
End of summer freedom: Outdoor swimming, long evenings, and light clothing fade away.
IDIOMS ABOUT AUTUMN OR, AS AMERICANS & CANADIANS CALL IT, "THE FALL"
Ask members to complete the following phrases ...
In your autumn (YEARS) - getting older
That old CHESTNUT - same old story
A hard nut to CRACK - tricky problem
The apple of your EYE - someone who is cherished more than another
Golden HANDSHAKE - pay off at redundancy or early retirement
Turn over a new LEAF - stop a bad habit or start afresh
The apple never falls far from the TREE - we are all pretty much like our parents
Save for a rainy DAY - plan ahead
To feel/be under the WEATHER - have a cold about you
Winds of CHANGE - the times they are a changing
The bigger they come, the harder they FALL - the more powerful a person is the more spectacular is their downfall
Fall flat on your FACE - fail in an embarrassing way
Fall about LAUGHING - laugh without being able to stop
Fall at the final HURDLE - fail to complete the final task or achieve the ultimate goal
Fall between two STOOLS - fail to take one of two satisfactory alternatives
Fall head over HEELS for someone - to fall deeply and suddenly in love
Fall off the back of a LORRY - stolen goods
Fall off the WAGON - start drinking alcohol again
Pride comes before a FALL - don't be too sure of yourself
United we stand, divided we FALL - there is strength in a shared vision and goals
Coughs and sneezes spread DISEASES - autumn is a time for colds and flu
AUTUMNAL RYHMES
There are also these autumnal rhymes to complete together ...
Answers ...
Rain rain go away, come again another day
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle right up to his middle, and never went there again.
Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone, And that has twenty-eight days clear, And twenty-nine in each leap year".
It's raining cats and dogs.
A storm in a teacup.
Lightning never strikes twice.
* A YouTube clip of 'Vicar Of Dibley' jumping into the (very deep) puddle was very well received! LINK HERE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JqkLc1Xf8QĀ
What was the name of her character & who played her?
FIRST SONG. 'Shine On Harvest Moon', Laurel & Hardy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIw14TwJvZc
Included because it is 'Harvest Moon' on 7th September and well, because this is a classic black and white clip.
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
ROUND 1. TEDDY BEARS
It is 'National Teddy Bear Day' on 9th September, so the first round focuses on that.
Has anyone still got their childhood teddy bear?
Name these famous bears?
Who is this?
What newspaper did he appear in?
Who is this?
What sandwiches did he like to eat?
What country was he from?
Who is this?
Which park did he live in?
What was the children's TV show that included 'Big Ted' and 'Little Ted'?
What are the other toys names?
Who is this bear?
Who wrote the books?
Who is this?
In which TV show did he appear?
Name the panda, bear and dog?
Who was their puppet master?
Name this bear?
What charity is he associated with?
Name this bear and his friends?
What children's TV show did they appear in?
SONG. 'The Bare Necessities', sung by Phil Harris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08NlhjpVFsU
Name this bear?
Who wrote the 'The Jungle Book'?
Name these famous bear people?
Comedy sketch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UfiCa244XE
SONG. āThe Wombling Songā, The Wombles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWQMMPFtoG4
What was their job?
SONG. āThe Teddy Bear's Picnicā, Henry Hall & His Orchestra - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZANKFxrcKU
TRUE OR FALSE. The name Teddy Bear came from President Theodore Roosevelt?
Ad break ...
Before playing the video clip, which breakfast cereal was "Central heating for kids!"?
ROUND 2. FACTS ABOUT AUTUMN
What do Americans call autumn?
Factoid. Up until 1500s, Britain called the autumn āThe Harvestā!
When do the clocks go back?
What do the initials G.M.T. stand for?
When is the autumn equinox - equal daylight and night hours?
When is the shortest day and what is it called?
Why is the first full moon in autumn called 'The Harvest Moon'?
When is 'Thanksgiving'?
When is āHalloweenā?
(Does anyone go out with their children or grandchildren āTrick or Treatingā?)
When is āBonfire Nightā?
(Remember āPenny for the guy?ā)
What are trees that lose their leaves in the autumn called?
What are trees that keep their leaves called?
(Apparently, it is the sugar in sap that gives the red, yellow, golden and purple hues in leaves as they die.)
Here is an interesting graphic ...
Here is an interesting picture of the difference ...
ROUND 3. NATURE
True or False. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and should not be given milk?
Which three animals hibernate in the late autumn through to the spring?
This animal becomes dormant in the late autumn through to spring (rather than hibernating). What is it called and what is the name of their house?
Foxes forage in the autumn and take shelter in the winter, but their colours are very autumnal.
What human quality is associated with them? What is their home called?
Which are more common in the UK, red or grey squirrels?
What is their home called?
True or False. Squirrels plant most of our forest and wood trees?
Factoid. Red squirrels also become dormant.
What is it called when birds fly to warmer climes in the autumn?Ā
Ask members to name some birds who migrate?
Many UK native birds do not migrate for winter. Here are a few of them. Can you name them?
Which pre-decimal coin did the first bird feature on?
Who killed Cock Robin?
Who sang about bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover?
Which city is this bird associated with?
Can you remember the rhyme about this bird?
True or False. Owls heads are so heavy that baby owls have to sleep face down?
Factoid. Owls are noisier in the autumn, hooting and shrieking. It's to do with protection of territory.
In the evening autumn and winter skies you will often see groups of Starlings flying in dense formation. What is this phenomenon called?Ā
Here is a video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0sE10zUYyY
Which area are you in as regards the 'Shipping Forecast' (this will obviously vary according to where you live)?
List some autumnal weathers?
Which BBC weather presenter wrongly forecast there would not be hurricane force winds on 15th October 1987?
Here is a video - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1516574511766467
Who remembers this storm? Did anyone have any damage?
Which year did they start naming storms?
Which scale measures the strength of wind?
What do you call a spell of dry warm weather in the autumn?
Song break. "Ing A Rainbow", Cilla Black - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXds_mkyuXY&list=RDKXds_mkyuXY&start_radio=1
What are the proper names for the seven colours in a rainbow prism?
Which mystical Irish creature sits at the end of a rainbow, with a pot of gold?
What is his job?
Name these famous people caught in the rain?
Name these famous autumn movies?
ROUND 4. AUTUMN YESTERDAY
Look at this picture and name these coal fire accoutrements?
(Did members have a coal man deliver their fuel and a coal bunker?)
(Did anyone or anyone's father or grandfather work as a miner?)
What other things did you have delivered?
Who used to get their socks darned by mum?
Who had a knitted tea cosy?
Whose mum knitted them an Arran jumper?
Who had patches on their jumper or jacket?
Who kept warm with a Parka jacket?
Who kept dry with Doc Marten boots?
Who can still knit or crochet?
Who is this famous knitter?
Which tree do conkers come from?
(Apparently soaking the conkers in vinegar and baking them makes them 'winning conkers', though some might say this was cheating!)
Ad break ...
Can you name some other chocolate bars?
Ad break ...
Before playing the clip, what bread is being advertised here?
Can anyone name the piece of classical music?
Between 1968-71 the Government trialled leaving the clocks as they were, that is not put them back, and the mornings were so dark children had to be issued high vis armbands. Why did they do this? Does anyone remember walking to school in the dark?
Ad break ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUgUeO9-NYYĀ
(Refreshments suggestion)
Who was Prime Minister during the 'Winter Of Discontent' in 1978-79?
('The Winter of Discontent' was characterised by widespread strikes by private, and later public sector trade unions demanding pay rises greater than the limits the Prime Minister and his Labour Party government had been imposing to control inflation. Some of these industrial disputes caused great public inconvenience, for example power cuts and uncollected rubbish, exacerbated by the coldest winter for 16 years, in which severe storms isolated many remote areas of the country.)
Did anyone have an outside toilet? What was the name of the toilet paper that was like tracing paper?
(Haemorrhoids were likely more prevalent at the time, if you know what I mean?)
Did anyone have a tin bath? What type of soap did Wright's make?
SINGALONG. 'All Things Bright And Beautiful', Hymn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMA5I3-0Jw
Which Church service is this hymn associated with?Ā
What would members take to this service?Ā
ROUND 4. AUTUMNAL SONGS MUSIC QUIZ
You could intersperse these throughout the session ...
 | "Why did summer go so quickly? Was it something that you said?" Which 1968 movie had this song as its theme tune? |
 | "I miss you most of all, my darling When autumn leaves start to fall." List some deciduous trees? |
 | "Many years have passed since those summer days, Among the fields of barley." What is Sting's birth name? What band did he form? |
 | "The summer sun is fading as the year grows old. And darker days are drawing near. The winter winds will be much colder. Now you're not here." Who wrote the book? Which actor spoke the words at the start of this song? |
 | "Try to remember the kind of September When life was slow and oh, so mellow." What nationality was Nana Mouskouri? |
 | "It doesn't matter whether skies are grey or blue, It's raining in my heart 'cause I can't be with you." What 1971 album is this song taken from? |
 | "Winter, spring, summer or fall All you've got to do is call And I'll be there, yeah You've got a friend." Who wrote this song? |
 | "The northern lights are in my mind They guide me back to you Horizons seem to beckon me." What is the proper name for the 'Northern Lights'? Has anyone seen the Northern Lights or would anyone like to? |
 | "Now December Found the love that we shared in September Only blue talk and love, remember The true love we share today." Which of the four elements is missing in the group's title? |
 | "Golden brown, texture like sun Lays me down, with my mind she runs Throughout the night No need to fight Never a frown with golden brown." List some things that are golden brown? |
 | "But there's a full moon risin' Let's go dancin' in the light We know where the music's playin' Let's go out and feel the night."
Think of songs with "Moon" in the title?
|
 | "All babies together, every one a seed Half of us are satisfied, half of us in need Love's bountiful in us, tarnished by our greed Oh, when will there be a harvest for the world?" List some things that are harvested at autumn? |
To finish, here is Hugh Grant walking through the seasons in the gh the four seasons in the 1999 movie 'Notting Hill' ...
To finish with an uplifting video clip, here is a dog jumping into leaves...
What breed of dog is it?
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
This week we brought in a small branch of a tree and all made leaves out of coloured card to decorate it with.
Members drew on their leaves on one side and on the other left messages about the autumn.
You will see in the above images the outcome of our efforts.
We also joined in a 'Guess The Weight Of The Marrow' competition.
ANSWERS
Dawn French video - What was the name of her character & who played her?
VICAR OF DIBLEY / GERALDINE GRANGER / DAWN FRENCH
ROUND 1. TEDDY BEARS ANSWERS
RUPERT / 'DAILY EXPRESS'
PADDINGTON / MARMALADE / PERU
YOGI / JELLYSTONE
'PLAY SCHOOL' / HUMPTY, JEMIMA & HAMBLE
WINNIE THE POOH / A.A. MILNE
FOZZIE THE BEAR / 'THE MUPPETS'
SOU, SOOTY & SWEEP / HARRY CORBETT
PUDSEY / 'CHILDREN IN NEED'
'RAINBOW' / ZIPPY, BUNGLE, GEORGE & GEOFFREY
BALOO / RUDYARD KIPLING
BEAR GRYLLS, GRIZZLY ADAMS
TERRY WOGAN
PAUL MCCARTNEY, ELVIS PRESLEY
HUGH BONNEVILLE
COLLECTING LITTER & RECYCLING
TRUE. The name teddy bear comes from former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who was commonly known as "Teddy" (though he loathed being referred to as such).
'READY BREK'
ROUND 2. FACTS ABOUT AUTUMN ANSWERS
AMERICANS CALL THE AUTUMN "THE FALL"
British Summer Time ends at 2am on 26TH OCTOBER 2025
G.M.T. - GREENWICH MEAN TIME
AUTUMN EQUINOX (EQUAL DAY AND NIGHT) 22ND SEPTEMBER
SHORTEST DAY (WINTER SOLSTICE) 21ST DECEMBER
FARMERS DEPENDED ON THE LIGHT TO HARVEST THEIR CROPS INTO THE NIGHT
'THANKSGIVING' IS THURSDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
'HALLOWEEN' 31ST OCTOBER
'BONFIRE NIGHT' 5TH NOVEMBER
TREES THAT LOSE THEIR LEAVES IN AUTUMN ARE DECIDUOUS
TREES THAT KEEP THEIR LEAVES ARE EVERGREEN
ROUND 3. NATURE ANSWERS
TRUE (Dog food is recommended!)
DOORMICE, HEDGEHOGS & BATS
BADGER/SETT
CUNNING/LAIR
GREY
(Populations are currently estimated at approximately 140,000 red squirrels and 2.5 million grey squirrels.)
TRUE. SQUIRRELS ARE FORESTERS, BURYING SEEDS AND FORGETTING WHERE THEY PUT THEM
MIGRATION / NIGHTINGALES, CUCKOOS AND SWIFTS ALL HEAD SOUTH
Which pre-decimal coin did the first bird feature on? WREN / FARTHING
Who killed Cock Robin? "I SAID THE SPARROW WITH MY BOW AND ARROW"
Who sang about bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover? BLUE TITS / VERA LYNN
Which city is this bird associated with? LONDON / COCKNEY SPARROW
Can you remember the rhyme about this bird?
TRUE. BABY OWLS SLEEP FACE DOWN BECAUSE THEIR HEADS ARE SO HEAVY
MURMURATION
AUTUMNAL WEATHERS - Autumn weather features cooler temperatures, shorter days, and an increase in rainy, blustery conditions often with heavy showers, strong winds, and the potential for thunderstorms due to low-pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic. While warm, sunny periods known as "Indian summers" can occur, they are often punctuated by spells of cold, unsettled weather.
STORM NAMING STARTED IN 2015
BEAUFORT SCALE
AN INDIAN SUMMER
RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO, AND VIOLET
LEPRECHAUN / COBBLER
MEGHAN MARKLE & PRINCE HARRY, RISHI SUNAK & CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES
'BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S', 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' & 'LOVE STORY'
ROUND 3. AUTUMN YESTERDAY ANSWERS
COAL SHUTTLE, POKER, ASH PAN, FIREGUARD
TOM DALEY
HORSE CHESTNUT
MARATHON, MARS, TWIX, CURLY WURLY, TOBLERONE, TOFFEE CRISP, KIT KAT, LION BAR, CRUNCHIE, TURKISH DELIGHT ETC
DVORAK 'NEW WORLD' SYMPHONY 9
JAMES CALLAGHAN
COAL TAR SOAP
HARVEST FESTIVAL / PRODUCE FROM THE GARDEN OR FARM, BAKED GOODS, CORN DOLLIES, HOME MADE JAMS AND PICKLES
MUSIC ROUND ANSWERS
'THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR'
ASH, BEECH, BIRCH, CHERRY, ELM, MAPLE, OAK, POPLAR, WILLOW, SYCAMORE, HORSE CHESTNUT
GORDON SUMNER / 'THE POLICE'
H.G. WELLS / RICHARD BURTON
GREEK
'TAPESTRY'
CAROLE KING
AURORA BOREALIS
WATER
GOLDEN BROWN - MAPLE SYRUP, CINNAMON, DATES, PRETZELS, BROWN SUGAR, HAIR, EYES, ANTIQUE BRASS, AMBER, RED SETTER ETC
'BLUE MOON', 'FLY ME TO THE MOON', 'MOON RIVER', 'MOONLIGHT SHADOW' 'MOONDANCE', 'MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU' ETC
APPLES, BARLEY, WHEAT, POTATOES, CARROTS, PARSNIPS, ONIONS, PUMPKINS, POMEGRANATES, MUSHROOMS ET
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