When does autumn start and why do we think about it so much?

From the article below

http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-fall-autumnal-equinox

The British seem to be obsessed by the weather.But often that is  because we need small talk and ,especially at the moment, we don’t want to talk about politics,Brexit,Syria, and  other terrible wars and disasters.The weather has been unusual recently being much warmer than normal so  that gives us simple to talk about when we meet neighbours in the street or at the bus stop.
But ought we do this when we are in some people’s eyes wasting time? Well,I think it is a good idea to talk to neighbours and people who live alone.Mind you living in the South  of England I feel some of the ways people behave down here are shocking like inviting you to look at their holiday photos but not letting you sit down.And if you do sit down they can look put out.Then they moan about awful  foreigners!I prefer the foreigners.
In fact ,I was treated as a foreigner when I came here.Even now people ask me where I come from.I think I’ll say China next time