LUCY KIPPIST’S SEPTEMBER ALMANAC

“September’s child is a faithful friend, like the shore that waits at the journey’s end. You are sure of yourself as you strive toward your goal. You inspire us with your loyal soul.”

Some months just need a soundtrack; whether it’s a playlist to kick things off in the right spirit or just a song that will inspire us to make the next thirty or so days a bit better than the last ones.

Were it up to me, September’s soundtrack would be triumphant, vibrant and melodious; I imagine it would sound something a lot like this:

To market, to market!

Blood oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, strawberries, asparagus, broccoflower, green beans, avocado and spring onion.

How pretty. I don’t ever remember reading about broccoflower before – it’s a curious shaped and coloured half cauliflower, half broccoli. Countless food blogs sing its praises, especially served raw and cut into pieces on a plate of crudités.

September’s flower is the Aster, otherwise known as the ‘michaelmas daisies’. St Michael was an archangel, the guardian of righteousness and virtue. So, he’s pretty handy to have in your back pocket. People invoke the spirit of St Michael when they want to ward off temptation; he’s like a cleanser for the soul! He’s believed to be the source of a love that conquers pride. What an incredible idea.

Speaking of love and pride… September is one of the busiest months in Australia for weddings – for those allowed to have them, of course.

You’d have to be living under a rock not to have realised what a gruelling social issue gay marriage has become in Australia; the ridiculous injustice of our current legal circumstances is bewildering and maddening. AA Gill is a travel writer, and a contributor to Gourmet Traveller magazine, but this piece written for Vanity Fair is one of the best things I have ever read on the inherent problems of modern heterosexual marriage. He’s witty and jarring and poignant.

September’s Good Housekeeping finds 25 surprising uses for household things and I am not afraid to tell you that I cannot get ENOUGH of this list. For example did you know that: mayonnaise gets rid of water rings on wooden furniture; or that you can use a pair of socks when you’re moving by wrapping them around the end of your fragile items.

Firm up the stems on your flowers by sliding a drinking straw along the bottom and fill the washing machine with ice and keep your drinks inside for a party, then let thaw and run an empty cycle when everyone leaves. Genius.