Blog 41. Winter woes when summer goes

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Me now ……… still dressed like an eskimo 😊

I spent many a hot steamy, dripping in sweat, long (too long!) hazy, lazy summer daydreaming of winter. And now that winter is here, I am afraid to admit I am not so sure I am happily enjoying it. Are we ever happy? Well, me especially! Everyone knows that during the steaming heat of summer I longed for winter, but I guess only remembering the fun times of winter. And yip its only June – but sjoe its already a nippy winter don’t you agree? One wonderful thing I do love about winter. All the socks – the fluffy, big ones I am talking about that have those little paddy things on the underfoot, so you don’t slip. Bummer here is when there is water or some such on the floor and you step in it – yip you know what I am talking about -wet socks – argh!

Yes, we have the most glorious summers, so I do believe our housing doesn’t warrant under floor heating, towel rack heating or central heating. But wouldn’t that be ideal. Well for me it would. It would be a definite! I went for a pedi, complete and utter digression here dear reader I am aware 😊 so as I was saying : Yip with my beloved beauty therapist who books her own therapy session when she knows the “landmine lady” is on her way. We have decided, next month we will leave the feet (sure she is breathing a silent breath of thanks and relief!) and rather do a facial as since its winter I don’t know about you ladies, but me and drinking water. Well, it isn’t happening as regularly as it should! I know it’s a mindset, but in that hot suffocating heat of summer all I really want is to drink water. Cooling, refreshing ice cold water with a dash of lemon, maybe some cucumber, heck even a rose petal to entice me to drink more! BUT now winter I am not that keen! That cold, harsh, icy looking water that trickles down your throat and chills the body! Nope not too keen at all. And due to not consuming my usual amount of water my face is dehydrated (I am quite sure this cold dry weather isn’t helping) so there you go – another reason for me to drink that cold water (meh☹).

Anyhow, I digressed (again) as I was saying, I was at the therapist, and she brought out the sander and the toe tools and did the necessary, so my feet look as pretty as a picture again. BUT I forgot – the nail polish needs to dry and in winter even the nail polish doth protest and takes longer to dry! The BT took one look at the closed shoes I arrived in and said: Those are not going to sufficeyou will need to go barefoot – so indeed I did. My little feet frizzo whizzo but looking pretty!

Sitting on the loo how cold it that seat! Especially when you all warm with your winter woolies, your long coat and scarf and then having to remove all that – well not necessarily remove it but adjust it to sit on the loo for a brief cool second. The other day I could see my hair was in serious need of a wash, but I truly thought no way not in these current conditions. To walk from the shower to the dresser after quickly towel drying my hair, combing it through and then blow drying it – I seriously pondered as to whether perhaps it was indeed time for a “treat” other than my pedi of course, and phoning my hairdresser to see if she could fit me in for a quick wash and blow. It seriously, seriously took a lot, I mean a huge amount of talking – negotiating with myself to rather – firstly put on the heater, plug in the hairdryer and then worst of all. Very worst of all! Strip and shower! But I did it! Talking about dressing up for winter though – how many times has this happened to you…. you leave early, early in the morning so it’s the whole shebang – you toasty – you in your car doing your rounds and it gets to twelve noon! That thermal underwear together with the big trench coat and thick winter trousers – not such a brilliant idea anymore! Not to mention the blady woolie polo neck you thought complimented your outfit so perfectly in that early morning freeze you were trying to placate!

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Me then – little chubby checker but  ……… still dressed like an eskimo

What about when you are done for the day and – nope, I was not going to say “pour a glass of wine” as one would in summer – reason for me being – I don’t drink red wine only white wine – always, rule number one – ALWAYS with a block of ice. So, no I wasn’t going to suggest a glass of wine (not for me anyhow) as you make yourself comfy on the couch for a bit of Netflix and chill (being the operative word!) So, I have my Cape Union slippers on, my gown, pajammies the whole shebang – add to that my blanket and beanie (no wonder I must wash my hair that often! A beanie is a sure way to lose the style not to mention make it dirty (maybe…. maybe not?) so I am all toasty in front of the TV and what happens, invariably I fall asleep! Then, then, then, it is the horror of being snug as a bug in your warm cocoon and having to get up and amble off to bed – but the issue here is – you fell asleep – so didn’t put the electric blanket on – and the bed is like a slab of ice! First prize in most houses – sadly not in ours ☹ – a fireplace! Now I can hear you quietly asking – doesn’t she at least have a heater? I do dear reader I do. Our house however is tiled throughout.

Mind you there are one or two good things about winter. Ah! Two definites – No flies! No Mosquitoes! Another – yet another ‘downer’ of winter – Drying the laundry on the good ol’ windy drier! Ours is erected in the garden – like everyone else’s I guess – but the sun doesn’t hang about as long (or as vehemently) as it does in summer! Now here is a handy hint – obviously there is always the tumble drier as an option – but when there is load shedding – hmmmm that can be a problem – so what I do – I set up the foldable drier and place it on the driveway …. and bobs your uncle – my washing dries every time (sound like the Omo ad there don’t I).

How about washing dishes – yikes and that cold water! My poor goldfish are currently using a GPS to swim around their tank. I am always, always very pedantic about their tank in the summer – winter – not so much! The thought of changing the water, cleaning the tank – and my poor hands! Bear in mind – the whole exercise is all about cold water only!!!! So, tomorrow is another day – and hopefully a little bit warmer and I will clean their tank.

To wrap up our winter woes – when you suddenly out of no where, one minute you are great and the next – ‘that’ itchy scratchy throat, the tweak in your nose and you just generally don’t feel so great – that F word. Yip the Flu! Ah for me – there is nothing worse! It just drags on and on, from that silly tweak in your nose to full blown sore throat, headache, runny nose, headache …. my worst!

And that is all she wrote about my winter woes, thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Stay well, warm, and always be kind to yourself

Mwah mwah

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