November

"November is the most disagreeable month in the whole year," said Margaret, standing at the window one dull afternoon, looking out at the frostbitten garden.

"That's the reason I was born it," observed Jo pensively, quite unconscious of the blot on her nose.

"If something very pleasant should happen now, we should think it a delightful month," said Beth, who took a hopeful view of everything, even November.

(Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Chapter 15)

Meg and Beth, I agree with you both.

November is both disagreeable and delightful.

The weather is usually fairly grim - cold winds, heavy rain, grey skies, maybe snow... The clocks have changed and the evenings are darker than ever. It is cold in the house. I feel ready to hibernate until March.

My youngest brother has turned 21 today. It's Bonfire Night this weekend. There's a wedding of good friends next weekend. There's a Fair Trade campaign to launch at church in time for Christmas. There's NaNoWriMo. There's even a fancy dress party inspired by this very month - 'N' for November - which will be a reunion with many of my old Classics chums.

November is both disagreeable and delightful. As are you Jo March, my favourite character of all.