To mark the changing of the season, we have put together our dream autumn weekend at home – with what to watch, cook, read, listen to and where to relax …
Make it cosy
Step one and arguably the most important, is to make your space cosy. Start the fire, light the candles, take the blankets down (although they probably were never “put up” over our chilly summer season) and make sure you have nowhere you need to be except at home. If you want to autumn-ise your home completely – see our tips here. Image via; www.neptune.com.
Watch the classic rainy day films
Crisp leaves, layered coats and woollen jumpers, romance, friendship, New York City combined together form the makings of a perfect autumn weekend film to watch. Luckily we have a watchlist just for that. There is complete and utter escapism in watching Meg Ryan march around New York, tote in hand, hair bouncing and on her way to give a man a piece of her mind. Perfect. Bridget Jones is always a great watch around this time of year, although we may save her for Christmas. See our full list here.
Start a new series
If you are looking for something a bit more hard-hitting and seriously addictive, start one of these gripping series on Netflix, Now TV, Disney + and Amazon Prime. Find a true crime biopic to really get into the spirit of spooky season, or fall deeply into the world of Vogue in the 90s on Disney+ or switch on A Very Royal Scandal for some raw storytelling. If you have flicked through all the new releases, than see our list of Netflix’s most-watched of the year and sit back relax and enjoy.
Read a book
‘Tis the season for resting by the fire and we don’t care what you have to say about it – it is THIS close to October. A good book makes cosy evenings so much better. Edel Coffey recommends these fabulous and gripping reads for the colder months. We’re picking up Roddy Doyle’s The Women Behind The Door (Jonathan Cape, €16.99) a sequel to Doyle’s books The Woman Who Walked Into Doors (1996) and Paula Spencer (2006). “Now Paula is 66 and a grandmother. She is widowed and has a boyfriend and a job that she likes, but when her daughter Nicola turns up at her door with a crisis, this book becomes a meditation on women and their relationships, particularly the mother-daughter one. Doyle’s writing about women is always sensitive and insightful but it is his inquiry into the human mind and heart which is most compelling of all,” says Edel Coffey, see her full reading list here, which includes new books from Michael Connelly, Sally Rooney, Roddy Doyle, Louise Erdich, Donal Ryan, Elizabeth Strout, Elif Shafak and Lee Child, among others.
Cook something comforting
Be sure to cook something really delicious and comforting like Kitty Coles’ deliciously moreish ricotta gnocchi or bake a cake (like her “any cake cake” recipe) – or an easy dessert – this weekend is all about ease. If you do decide to cook up Kitty’s ricotta gnocchi and slow roasted tomatoes, which we recommend – you can use the tomatoes for the whole weekend. Kitty’s recommended ways of using the slow roasted tomatoes: blitzed into a gorgeous autumnal soup, add to a bolognese or another sauce to make it richer, use in a sandwich, toss through beans for a salad or serve as a side to meat or fish. Visit Kitty Coles’ food page to find more recipes.
See the slow roasted tomatoes and ricotta gnocchi recipe here.
Plan an escape
Book a visit to one of these spas for ultimate relaxation. Now is the time of year that we like to allocate some proper time for relaxing so a spa based in Ireland, on the coast or in a remote picturesque location, sounds like our idea of heaven. A complete escape, order room service, wear the rope and hide – just hide. Sound good? See our list of places to visit here for your own rejuvenating retreat. Ballynahinch in Connemara (pictured above) is a great choice. Apart from its idyllic setting, gorgeous restaurants and cocooning rooms, there’s a new reason to visit Ballynahinch Castle. Set among the estate’s gorgeous woodlands, guests will find some new outdoor saunas overlooking the lake. See our list of spas to escape to here.