I'm going to embrace autumn and celebrate simply being alive ...

September has become a significant time for me, although it wasn't always the case.

Like many people I moaned about dark nights, cold mornings, dismal rain and the speedy approach to the end of the year.

September is a time when wasps, drunk from fallen fruit, become aggressive. Plants give one last surge before reaching the end of their life cycle and the trees look stark against the steel-coloured sky.

Butterflies, with their bright colours and promise of sunshine, suddenly become scarce, the conservatory will no longer be full of flies (thank goodness) and nights begin to draw in heralding that the dark days of autumn and finally winter are coming all too quickly.

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But September is also about autumn, celebrating harvest time, cheery walks through falling leaves, skies full of birds on their annual migration pattern and heart warming soups bubbling on the stove. It is a peaceful time.

For me September last year didn't involve any of these things. As the month began I went into hospital for a routine operation that went dreadfully wrong and put my life literally on hold.

I didn't get to walk through autumn woods, feel the chill creep in the air or register the movement of the seasons. I was too busy (in my hospital bed) fighting my own personal battle for survival.

There were days that I longed to feel the breeze in my hair, rain on my heated skin (I swear I thought it would turn into steam I was so hot) or simply to sit outside and listen to the geese chattering as they flew overhead.

Luckily, I won my fight. I survived but the experience changed me.

This year I intend to savour all aspects of this first autumn month. I'm planning apple pies, cider and hot crumbles with custard.

I'm going to walk through those trees and marvel at the colours I see them dressed in. While it's not exactly New England in the fall it's still good enough for me.

I will welcome the dark nights, gathering comfort from my roaring fire and the excuse to snuggle up with my family, and I'm actually hoping for a few days of crisp, dry weather to get out and sit in the tree house while the frost pinches my cheeks.

Maybe I'll get the chance to add to the garden and tidy up the lawn in preparation for the winter haul or perhaps I'll just let nature take its course.

Listening to those around me complain bitterly about the dismal aspects of autumn I want to tell them I've learned my lesson.

That they should embrace life as if each day will be your last, live the best life you can. Laugh at the little things, sing when you feel like it and dance without a care.

September is now the month for my new birthday (or rebirth day) and I intend to celebrate – so come and join me celebrate simply being alive.