It's Black Out There

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A little after 4pm and it was so black outside that we had to put the lights on. Storm Debi has been making itself known all day with heavy rain and a strong wind. In fact the weather was so disgusting that after a brief foray for Yoga and Pilates classes I was glad to get home and hunker down. Contending with foul conditions on top of everything else only adds to the torment and tension.

I've always said that one of the benefits of retirement has been an ability to follow the seasons and live life accordingly but I'm not so sure about relating to or synchronising with these short, dark, depressing days.  When I was last able to get out into the garden for a limited tidy up in readiness for what feels like a fast approaching winter, I noticed that we appear to be hosting a hedgehog's nest behind some shrubbery. It made me wonder whether hibernation might actually be an appropriate way to harmonise with the coming months.

It's been a pattern of our retirement to try to get away and travel in warmer climes at or about this time of year. It keeps the Vitamin D levels high and certainly shortens the winter. Of course it's not been possible this year, when it seems we waste days and weeks looking out for progress in resolving the oil problem. Even now that the new water pipe is laid, we feel unable to plan anything whilst we wait for the plumber to provide a date to connect the water supply.

At least the mechanical digger and workmen's portaloo disappeared from the drive today. Unfortunately the skip remains in situ. Somebody made an appearance to pump out the water that had collected within and then left it with a heavy duty sheet of  polythene covering the contents. Neeedless to say the wind was very happy to disturb that and Mister E had to rush out and tie it down. 

I recently renewed my Fitbit and see that, along with the the monitoring I've been accustomed to, it also assesses physical stress levels. At first I thought the readings must mean that they are through the roof which, although surprising, could easily fit with the pile on our plates right now. However, apparently what the Fitbit is really trying to measure is how well the body is coping physically with the trials of daily life, meaning that a high score is actually good and not bad, as I erroneously assumed. Evidently I am deploying excellent coping mechanisms and although there was a slight dip last week with the workmen around, it still suggested that my physiology is fine.

Breathing deeply, as in those classes this morning, as well as exercising generally and thinking positively might be the key because, despite last week's pressures coupled with the anxiety induced by trying to secure a new insurance policy for my mother's home and getting various paperwork properly signed and witnessed for her, Fitbit says that internally all is working well. It obviously hasn't tried walking on the knee that's still inflamed, stretching out the tight hip, or seeing through my fuzzy eye but at least I have confirmation that my heart beats properly and I'm not sleep deprived. I never thought that I was needy enough to require external validation but, if I'm to be deprived of a late autumnal trip to the sunshine, it seems that I am.



Comments

Treaders said…
It was always depressing to leave home in the dark and then come home in the dark during the winter months wasn't it, and I'm still so very aware of how hard it is for those still doing it. I mentioned in one of my posts that I really liked the book "Wintering" by Katherine May. It just spoke to me somehow in that, while not really practical or possible in today's world, hibernation is probably what we are best designed to do during this period. In fact I think I'll have another read, now that I've mentioned it!
14 November 2023 at 09:45
Caree Risover said…
Oh yes, I’d forgotten how nocturnal that winter commute made me feel whereas now I find something almost surprising about driving in the dark. I’m guessing the human body probably didn’t evolve to doing much else but eat supper and sleep during the hours of darkness; thank goodness for the electric light - it’s saved us from winter bed sores!
14 November 2023 at 10:11
Caree Risover said…
Treaders you are not the only one to like “Wintering.” Based on your recommendation, I decided to check if it is on the library’s online list; it is and so I have put in a reservation. However, it’s so popular I have to wait to access until the end of December. At least the days will be getting longer, then.
14 November 2023 at 10:18
Treaders said…
Good for you for ordering the book! It had a very "calming" feel to it which I can't explain, but yes I liked it and will definitely read it again!
15 November 2023 at 09:38
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