Winter at No 19

When I was a child I remember winter being magic. I remember snow, seeing my breath as I walked to school. Finding the top of my bottle of milk frozen - yes, I do remember getting free milk at school! Maybe I just got older, but somewhere along the way it changed. I'm not so enthusiastic about winter anymore... but that doesn't mean I can't be.

I woke up this morning to the wind howling around the house. It's carrying a dusting of snow that somehow resembles polystyrene and hides the glinting sheets of treacherous ice that are everywhere at the moment. More snow is on the way so we're truly in winter now.

Frappis usually wakes me up to go out at about 5:30 and so I get up and start my routine of feeding that cats, cleaning up, chopping wood and lighting the stove, shower, shave, etc. and I usually end with walking Lu and Wolfie before starting work.

I sound like I'm complaining, but it's a wonderful life and I wouldn't change it for the world. However, it's just a little more wonderful when it's warm!

I woke up today in need of some herbal tea, vitamins and colour! I had a night of strange and disturbing dreams that kept me awake a lot of the night and I really didn't feel like facing the cold... and it really is cold now.

I'm not sure why I'm not a huge fan of winter. I love the way it looks, I love that it kills the bugs that cause problems in the garden during the summer, I love seeing the snow and frost, but I just prefer the heat.

Give me a day at the end of spring when the garden has come to life and the air is full of promise, and I'll be happy.

One of the good things about having dogs is that they love going out for their walks. And on a cold winter's morning these two black beauties get me out into the world when I'd probably happily sit by the fire waiting for winter to pass.

Now he has bad hips we don't go that far, but Lu is a boy who insists on his walks however he's feeling. He loves them and takes them so seriously.

Wolfie I think would happily sit on the sofa and chew on Lu's bones that he keeps finding and stealing. He's still unsure about going far from the house and when we turn to come home, he's suddenly enthusiastic.

But whatever happens, we go for a 20 minute walk every morning and it really is wonderful even when it's cold. When I lived in the centre of cities I'd dream about being able to surround myself with such nature.

Now that I'm in it, I do sometimes need a reminder about how wonderful it is and that I do genuinely appreciate it.

This is a difficult time of year. The holidays are over, it seems to be getting colder and every day that it's closer to spring, it somehow feels even further. Often there's the temptation to wish these cold months away.

I'm determined to not do that. I want to get inspired and put the magic and fun back into my winters.

However cold it is, however early the sun goes down, however uninspired I feel, I'm determined to see the beauty, enjoy the walks, feel the moments, have hot drinks in the snow, spend time with the furry family and create memories that shape my perception of these cold months, bringing back that winter magic! 💙