For me it’s not another day obviously, but I respect those that don’t celebrate it. Honestly, I tend to respect them more than those that put lot of attention to the day but then forget about what it is about until Easter at most.
Not participating in giving or worse being asked what gift you want is so liberating. I hated both sides of that conundrum.
My standard answer: “bookstore gift card.”
I hate cold weather.
My birthday, my wife's birthday and XMas are the only good things about Dec. Otherwise winter can stay away
The only ones don't like are the ones who deviate from SS. What's the point of three things when you don't get one? If I write surprise like I do once in a while, that's different
It's easier to get warm when cold than to get cool when hot (says the person living in Scotland).
My list:
Are you a squirrel? Not a fan here either. We are still keeping the heating off, but it’s down to 15 in my bedroom.
In Scotland we go into Winter Mode: During the day, we consume lots of hot drinks and soup. During the evening we settle at pubs with a fireplace, whisky, friends, and more whisky. The early dark hours makes it easier to go for drinks after work. Mind you, so do the long summer evenings.
Pubs with fireplaces (home to a blazing fire) are among the cosiest spots one can spend some time during winter (late autumn, early spring) in our latitudes, agreed. There is a very good reason (our cold, dark wet winters) why our pubs are so warm and welcoming and downright cosy and why Britain and Ireland both "get" the whole idea of why cosy pubs are a vitally important public space in our culture in winter.In Scotland we go into Winter Mode: During the day, we consume lots of hot drinks and soup. During the evening we settle at pubs with a fireplace, whisky, friends, and more whisky. The early dark hours makes it easier to go for drinks after work. Mind you, so do the long summer evenings.
Anyway, the one good thing about being so far North (same latitude as the southern tip of the Hudson Bay) is that the seasons really change quickly. At the equinox's, the change in total daylight hours is more than 4 minutes per day...
You want to become the monk or one of the kittens? I mean in the next life.
Ahh yes, today is the reason I like November and January the least in the year (Xmas festivities alleviate somewhat December) sun sets in 15 minutes or so and now I will be leaving work in the dark.
Regarding the retro love for pen, paper and other old school writing implements I must say that my director would agree with you. He writes very nicely and always writes notes for work instructions and uses a journal to keep track of work and personal dates. We chipped in and got him a Montblanc fountain pen for his birthday which he greatly appreciates and uses.
I on the other hand bless the digital age as my handwriting has always been, to say the least, subpar. Even worse is over 4 years ago I had to have my index and middle finger of my right hand amputated - and I am right-handed. I have largely adapted but have a more difficult time to write - I can write slowly with my right hand (as to sign documents) and despite practice can't learn to write left-handed. So thank goodness and human ingenuity for computers and smartphones. But I still admire handwritten documents and paper books.
It is so interesting to read what you all posted. I understand the points you make, I really do. But here is what I think (clocks went back where I am from as well):
.Either one is perfectly fine. Obviously cats are the most zen pets.
Wonderful.
No.
It is so interesting to read what you all posted. I understand the points you make, I really do. But here is what I think (clocks went back where I am from as well):
I have been looking forward to this day for the past few weeks. And not because the weekend is an hour longer, you get to sleep in for a week or because you get to go to bed an hour later (until your inner clock starts to adjust). No.
I love Autumn and Winter for the mood it creates.
I enjoy September, it is the time when the summer starts to fade out. Then the first colder days appear and it gets rainier. Everything calms down somehow.
October just amplifies this mood. Rough weather, where you can feel nature around you. It ends with Halloween.
In November it then gets even colder. And darker. Everything slows down. You stay inside more, in your warm apartment. Enjoying Tea and some cookies with a good book. Warm and good food. An idea of Christmas is in the air. But first there is Thanksgiving. Another holiday to look forward to (apart from the sad consumerism it brings with it...).
In December, once Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas time officially starts (it started way earlier for me, but now its official). The 4 weeks preceding Christmas are my favourite weeks of the year. Everything kind of comes to an end. Not a single thought spend on the next year until New Years Eve is over. The cities are decorated. People are in a hurry to get everything prepared. And with the sun setting at around 4pm and rising at around 9am it feels like the world is covered in a huge blanked. Warm and cozy.
I love being in the gym, just loosing myself on the treadmill while it is raining outside and I watch the cars go by.
Or when you have one of those productive days in the office, when everything just flows, you listen to some jazz or Christmas music and it starts to get darker outside (this is happening as I am writing this comment, though I could be more productive I reckon haha).
I love reading Harry Potter and sitting outside watching people go by. Feeling the cold air on my hands and face. Maybe even spoil myself to one of those overpriced coffees to go every once in a while.
I could go on for a few more paragraphs...
January to March are a mess though. The mood that I love so much vanishes after New Years. It is just a depressing time where I look forward to the next Christmas
Would love to hear your thoughts. Can you relate in any way?
It’s nice of you to speak for the whole nation of Scotland lol. Might make an idealistic tourism advert, but actual reality is that a lot of good pubs are closing down at a faster rate these days because most people don’t frequent them (either through choice or because of budget)In Scotland we go into Winter Mode: During the day, we consume lots of hot drinks and soup. During the evening we settle at pubs with a fireplace, whisky, friends, and more whisky. The early dark hours makes it easier to go for drinks after work. Mind you, so do the long summer evenings.
Anyway, the one good thing about being so far North (same latitude as the southern tip of the Hudson Bay) is that the seasons really change quickly. At the equinox's, the change in total daylight hours is more than 4 minutes per day...
