Everything you need to know for October.
Happy October!
No more ‘fake’ autumn as a result of our dry summer, this month we can start to notice autumn proper – and I can’t wait for it. After all the heat & brightness, I’m really looking forward to some slightly cooler days & darker evenings – but hopefully still dry because I’m not fond of mud…
I appreciate that not everyone will love the shorter autumn days, so if that sounds like you, try getting outside in the morning, maybe with your first cup of tea or coffee, so that you catch the early light and set yourself up for a great day.
On our guided walks this month we’ll start to notice the changing colours in nature, as well as a bountiful supply of conkers, acorns and chestnuts.
If you see conkers…choose three, put them in your pocket until you get home, and then leave them in your wardrobe until next year. Carrying them home will bring you wealth; putting them in your wardrobe will keep the moths away #magic #notscientificallyproven
A cautionary note: take care when you’re walking at this time of year because acorns on compacted soil act a lot like marbles on a glass floor…and sometimes they hide under fallen leaves to try and catch you out!
Here’s everything ‘tmf’ for the month ahead:
Classes
Your October class timetable looks like this:
Term-dates for the current term are –
- Women-Only Workout & Functional Pilates – Mondays – 14th September-19th October (6 weeks)
- Functional Pilates – Fridays – 25th September-23rd October (5 weeks)
(click on the underlined links above to book any of these classes)
A bit of a change in January 2027
For a while now I’ve been looking for a second venue to run another Women-only-Workout class each week and last week I found it!
If everything goes to plan, I’ll be teaching at Hands of Hope in Hawkhurst (near The Moor) on Thursday evenings starting from 14th January. It is a really beautiful venue, the hall is light and spacious and there is a possibility that the café will be open while we’re there so you can stop off before or after class to grab a drink/snack/chat. In the summer months, we may also be able to use the beautiful outside space or the yurt!!
I have decided to use this venue for WOW followed by Functional Pilates, so Thursday evenings will mirror the timetable for Monday evenings, giving you an alternative or an additional option to join me each week.
It does mean that I will no longer be offering Functional Pilates in Kilndown after the end of this year, but hopefully the Monday &/or Thursday classes will work for you.
I’m really excited to make this change to the timetable and start teaching in this fantastic space. I’ll share more nearer the time…
Personal training
One-to-one PT sessions are a great way to kickstart new activity, focus on training for a specific event, learn good movement patterns or to simply be held accountable! You can book just a few sessions or arrange on-going sessions, whichever suits your needs and budget.
If you are interested in discussing PT sessions, please let me know and we can arrange for an initial chat to see if we want to work together.
Guided walks
October is the perfect month for layering-up and getting out for a walk. and doing it in company adds a really lovely social element, giving you nature, movement, connection and fresh air all in one. What’s not to love?!
When I was leading a walk for a group of women last week, as I listened to them chat about their lives, I was reminded how much we can all gain from taking a little bit of our week for ourselves, especially if you have parenting or caring responsibilities. It’s easy to feel like you don’t have time to make time, but it’s so important to sometimes step off the treadmill and wander for a few hours…
If you feel like wandering with me this month, here are details for my upcoming walks:
- Eridge & Harrison’s rocks (with Adventure Women UK) – Saturday 3rd October – details here – a beautiful autumn hike through the High Weald, exploring the wooded countryside around Eridge and Groombridge and crossing the Kent–Sussex border along the way. This varied circular route combines rocky sandstone outcrops, ancient woodland, streams, quiet countryside and rolling hills, with Harrison’s Rocks providing one of the standout features of the day.
- Shepherdswell to Dover – Saturday 10th October – details here – join me for our next section of the North Downs Way which we see us reaching the end of the whole 153-mile route! As we near our destination there is the option to call in to see the stunning Maison Dieu. This section of the trail offers a mixture of open countryside and residential areas on the final approach and it includes one of the art sculptures that make up the NDW Art Trail.
- Bearsted – Sunday 18th October – details here – this women-only walk is around 10km (approx 6 miles) which will take us around 3 & a half hours, at a pace that is comfortable for the whole group. We will head away from Bearsted and up onto the North Downs Way, exploring the remains of Thurnham Castle, before reaching the viewing point at White Horse Wood Country Park where we’ll take a breather. You can expect some big views, a trig pillar, possibly some muddy sections, a few hills (but nothing too strenuous) and great company!
Next month there will be walks in/around Harrietsham, Kings Wood & the Kent coast – details soon!
Where’s the footpath?
This week, after recently leading a few walks in London, it was really nice to get back to some open countryside – but so many fields, like the one below, have just been ploughed and the footpaths have disappeared from view. Hopefully next time I’m here it will be trodden down again…
Here’s to a golden October!
Jx