If I were Innuit, I would have been sent out onto the ice by now. If I was Anangu I would have been sent out into the desert. If I was living with my parents I would have been given a "clip under the ear," by now. Why? Cabin fever.
I'm sick of the long grey days. I'm sick of the cold weather. I'm sick of snow and ice. I'm sick of freezing cold wind and sleet. I'm sick of spending my weekends in the house looking at my ugly garden. I'm sick of being sick! I need to get out of the house and I need some sunshine. The amazing month in Australia is nothing but a distant memory. So distant, I can barely remember how it felt to have the sun on my face.
I'm short with Raina and even shorter with Maarten. The poor man is being blamed for everything. My gloves, hat and scarf were missing this morning. He happily went searching in the car to no avail, while I tore our bedroom to pieces in an angry frenzy. When I came back empty handed I immediately blamed him for leaving them in the hotel room when we left yesterday. Why would I blame him? They're not his responsibility. I did find the hat, gloves and scarf - under Raina's buggy, where they had been stored yesterday while we were out and about. Then poor Maarten made the mistake of pushing for an apology. Apology?! Instead I just about bit his head off!
This is unacceptable and has to stop. In years gone by, these feelings would have degenerated into months of "I hate this fucking country" ranting, but now I know it's not Holland's fault. The problem is with me. And with winter. I stare out the window at my bleak surroundings, dormant trees, endless grey and it makes me miserable. I wonder if the sun will ever shine again.
In the past it has been suggested that we buy a punching bag, so I have something to take my frustrations out on. But this won't help. I don't want to punch something, I want to break something. Give me an endless budget and a room at the Dorchester and I'll work out my frustrations on the furniture in a jiffy.
But this is reality. I don't have the option of trashing a room at the Dorchester with Tommy Lee and Slash. It won't be considered polite behaviour to kick the next cyclist who cuts me off on my way to work. It's only a matter of time before Maarten files for divorce. How do I fix it? Is it vitamin D? A general sense of winter misery that will only end with the coming of spring? Should I move to Spain (Can I? Can I?)?
Edited to add: I should also mention that Raina brings home a little snuffle from day care just about every week. A snuffle that she brushes off (thank goodness), but I get so sick that I must have the plague. Right now I have a sinus that is so blocked that my voice is hoarse and I could guide Santa's bloody sleigh. Oh, and I've had norovirus three times since the beginning of December. Three times! @#%&! winter.
Help me, please!
How do you cope with winter? Any tips for a genuine child of summer? Does light therapy actually work, or is it all hogwash?
I'm sick of the long grey days. I'm sick of the cold weather. I'm sick of snow and ice. I'm sick of freezing cold wind and sleet. I'm sick of spending my weekends in the house looking at my ugly garden. I'm sick of being sick! I need to get out of the house and I need some sunshine. The amazing month in Australia is nothing but a distant memory. So distant, I can barely remember how it felt to have the sun on my face.
I'm short with Raina and even shorter with Maarten. The poor man is being blamed for everything. My gloves, hat and scarf were missing this morning. He happily went searching in the car to no avail, while I tore our bedroom to pieces in an angry frenzy. When I came back empty handed I immediately blamed him for leaving them in the hotel room when we left yesterday. Why would I blame him? They're not his responsibility. I did find the hat, gloves and scarf - under Raina's buggy, where they had been stored yesterday while we were out and about. Then poor Maarten made the mistake of pushing for an apology. Apology?! Instead I just about bit his head off!
This is unacceptable and has to stop. In years gone by, these feelings would have degenerated into months of "I hate this fucking country" ranting, but now I know it's not Holland's fault. The problem is with me. And with winter. I stare out the window at my bleak surroundings, dormant trees, endless grey and it makes me miserable. I wonder if the sun will ever shine again.
 |
| The view from my office window today. Envious? |
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| The view from the same window, 11 weeks ago! |
In the past it has been suggested that we buy a punching bag, so I have something to take my frustrations out on. But this won't help. I don't want to punch something, I want to break something. Give me an endless budget and a room at the Dorchester and I'll work out my frustrations on the furniture in a jiffy.
But this is reality. I don't have the option of trashing a room at the Dorchester with Tommy Lee and Slash. It won't be considered polite behaviour to kick the next cyclist who cuts me off on my way to work. It's only a matter of time before Maarten files for divorce. How do I fix it? Is it vitamin D? A general sense of winter misery that will only end with the coming of spring? Should I move to Spain (Can I? Can I?)?
Edited to add: I should also mention that Raina brings home a little snuffle from day care just about every week. A snuffle that she brushes off (thank goodness), but I get so sick that I must have the plague. Right now I have a sinus that is so blocked that my voice is hoarse and I could guide Santa's bloody sleigh. Oh, and I've had norovirus three times since the beginning of December. Three times! @#%&! winter.
Help me, please!
How do you cope with winter? Any tips for a genuine child of summer? Does light therapy actually work, or is it all hogwash?
Logging you in...
Rachel · 632 weeks ago
Too funny.
Unfortunately, there is no way out but to keep moving forward.
Maybe a gym membership would help? Perhaps a basket of flowers on your desk?
Good luck!
Martin · 632 weeks ago
amy · 632 weeks ago
Rachel · 632 weeks ago
Glad you got a giggle...
And I am off to do the same thing myself! My Dutch husband (coincidently also named Maarten) sort of insisted. So, you and I will both have killer abs come this summer!!
Also, have you noticed how heavy the Dutch diet is? The carbs, the grease, the stompot...it can all do a number on your blood sugar. After the plate incident, started juicing and I feel more balanced. Look up the Dr Oz "Green Drink" It is tasty....but drink it straight away; the chlorophyll gets really strong and is blecky after about an hour. It helped me, but it isn't for everyone.
Hope your spirits lift!
Carolyn · 632 weeks ago
Last winter i was sick from September straight til May. this year, aside from one bought of Noro in September (pre flu shot), and a pretty decent sized cold at Xmas (post shot), i have sat by and watched countless humans fall prey to every sickness available. Even my husband who is never, and i mean NEVER sick, has been battling a fever and cough for the past week, and blaming me for being "healthier than usual" thus leaving the brunt to fall on him. Can you say "man flu"? ugh. But i digress....
And don't worry, spring IS around the corner!
Sanne Priem · 632 weeks ago
And last, but not least, make sure you get to see different surroundings. Come and visit me in Amsterdam sometime, we could grab a way too expensive cocktail somewhere (with a lil umbrella or two) contemplating vacation and sunshine :-)
Good luck girl!
Rachel · 632 weeks ago
Maria · 632 weeks ago
theramblingriddle 1p · 632 weeks ago
Nissa · 632 weeks ago
Nerissa, I am feeling you! As a fellow Australian I know it irritates me even more to see friends and family having picnics in the park and gorgeous days on the beach while we're freezing our little achterwerks off! I haven't been outside since Thursday as I just can't bear to layer up AGAIN!
My godmother, Australian expat here in Tulipland for 14 years now, swears by a fortnightly session at the tanning salon throughout winter. About six years go she became "impossible to live with" (her words!), and her doctor actually prescribed this. Just ten minutes on the lowest setting, and it recharged her beautifully. She even got it covered by her health insurance!
At the moment I'm fighting my own battles with the dry air. I've been waking up with a sore throat, itchy eyes and aching sinuses, and after freaking out that I was coming down with the flu I realised that it was actually the result of the dry air. Potted plants around the house in winter look great, remind me that their is green in the world (!) and are really good at humidifying the air. I'm also trying out placing bowls of water on top of the radiators for evaporation, and will put some yummy smelling essential oils in these once I work up the nerve to leave the house... Filling the house with vases of flowers can help too, not just because they make you smile and are as cheap as chips over here, but the water evaporates and humidifies the air too. I've found some great 'recipes' for simmer pots that you keep on the stove all day, and I'm going to test this out with my slow cooker as I'm not so keen on having the gas on all day. Think orange, lemon and cinnamon smells through your house. Very cosy and refreshing at the same time.
Finally, I'm going to share with you all my Queensland-girl crazy moment: when I just can't stand the thought of wearing jeans or track pants one more day, I crank up the heating and put on a sundress. I drink OJ (or wine) with ice cubes in it and paint my finger and toe nails bright red while listening to some sort of summer-mix music. I suggest The Cat Empire. Or INXS.
Nissa · 632 weeks ago
Guillaume · 632 weeks ago
This winter was at least not that bad for me, for one reason: I was seriously ill. I caught a bad flu, so I HAVE TO stop, make a real break and just sleep. After that I took some vitamins and this end winter is one of my best in years wrt my health! The lesson is: when you're ill, just stop, take two days off. If you dont stop, seriously it makes it harder to cure and you got the feeling months after your illness that you're always dragging it behind you.
Nelly · 631 weeks ago
Caitlyn · 631 weeks ago
My recent post A roam around the Reunification Palace
Melanie Schram · 631 weeks ago
Good news is you can easily fix it! You can rent or buy a light therapie lamp. You have to sit in every morning at a set time for half a hour. It really helps. I have it to, miracles will happen.
It has to do with the lack of light, it imbalances you're melatonin and dopamine level. You're dopamine should rise due to sunlight being catched by the eye but in winter this often isn't enough. That is were the lamp coe in. It raises you're dopamine level en reduces you're melatonin level (wich makes you sleepy/depressed and frustrated) and all will be better. Winter still is hard but the emotional swings will be less awful. Good luck with it and if you want to know more feel free to contact me!
Tiina · 631 weeks ago
I come from the Nordic countries and the winter here depresses me as well. I think it's because the skies are so incredibly grey most of the time. I've won the battle over the heating, we keep it at 22 during the day! Not that it helps much when there is a draft from every window and door in the house.
Don't know about the light therpay, some people swear by it so it's worth a try :) Most of the foreigners I know here are on hefty doses of anti-depressants and that doesn't seem to help at least.
Faiz Ismail · 297 weeks ago
interior designers · 280 weeks ago
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