AFTER only one-and-a-half hours' sleep, I found myself wide awake.
What on earth is that all about?
Maybe it was my phone telling me I had a message from my student in Chile and a video from my son in California.
Or was it the sudden chest pains I keep getting during ridiculous hours of the night?
For whatever reason I found myself lying there for over an hour pondering on life and mortality.
At 3.10am I decided to get up and unload my ideas and thoughts for my next article.
I know I'm breaking all the rules by going on my computer at night but sometimes it has to be done - mainly, as by morning I'll have forgotten everything.
I ventured downstairs and made myself a cup of hot milk and a slice of toast.
The cat looked at me, totally confused and wondering if it was her feed time too but soon got the message.
The nights are drawing in. How often do we hear that phrase?
I remember my grandma looking out of the window as she drew the curtains and saying this every year as autumn approached. To me at the moment it could be interpreted as a euphemism for old age.
The world's climate is changing rapidly.
Before coming downstairs, I began pondering on the whole aspect of global warming. Not in a scientific or political way particularly but from my crazy point of view.
I imagined an alien being looking down on our spinning planet, seeing a crumbling fiery lump of earth.
Mother Nature has thrown everything at us this last couple of years - heatwaves, earthquakes, floods, you name it, she’s done her worst.
However, I want to stay optimistic self and remain positive for the future.
The grass and plant life are regaining their greenery and bringing back beauty to the landscape.
I am now planning my next children's art opportunity, which is a 2027 calendar.
I think this is why I started to think about the weather. When I put a call out for artwork reflecting months of the year, I usually have submissions for popular months such as December and October.
But what about poor September? It is very much a transition period for many children and adults. Back to work for teachers and other school staff, new year groups or new schools for children, from the scary prospect of going through the school gates to leaving school and venturing out into the world of work or university.
A seasonal landscape by Nusaybah, nine (Image: Lynne Dobson)
While winter is often a time for the blues, autumn is the in-between season and in my opinion the most beautiful - and the most inspirational for art.
My children used to love coming home from school during dark evenings and settling in front of the fire, but the seasons are a bit topsy-turvy now with temperatures warm enough to wear T-shirts into October and the occasional snow in spring.
A striking landscape by Clara, 18 (Image: Lynne Dobson)
I think the weather/global warming and art should be two key subjects on the National Curriculum to prepare the next generation.
I would love children aged four to 18 to submit artwork depicting a month of the year (without writing or lettering).
Please email artwork to me at purplegrandma48@gmail.com, including name and age.
l Lynne Dobson is a Bradford artist and art teacher.