Intrigued by your ranking of seasons - but yes, always startled to remember the solstice is just the beginning, meteorologically speaking (personally a bit vexed by the lightening days, but I am apparently half troll). Off-grid week sounds dreamy... wish I could think of someone who would enjoy doing that! (not sure if a solo one might be a bit TOO hermitty?)
I really enjoyed doing it solo last year, but I think possibly I am also part troll.
I think it would also be fun to do it with a bunch of people with similar fondness for reading, writing and doing stuff outdoors. Could meet for dinner in the evenings and compare notes.
When I started riding a motorbike aged 17, my avid cyclist and motorcyclist Dad told me that real winter is February, knowing I would want to be riding all year round. I've never forgotten that and have found it to be particularly true in East Anglia and most places in Scotland.
I definitely relate to the anxious attentiveness, I love that phrase! My husband really struggles mood-wise from New Year until he is back from his skiing holiday or has had his birthday in February (usually both are close together) and I am constantly asking myself "yes but am I really fine? Am I sure I'm fine? Yes I'm actually absolutely fine but should I be?" as I thankfully don't have anything like the same difficulties.
Enjoy your retreat and belated Happy New Year to you!
That all sounds wonderful, though the best way to deal with winter is to take up skiing (ideally ski touring) so that the true excitement of the year comes with the dark and cold and white stuff coming out of the sky. (I’m going to be in Switzerland next week.) Enjoy your reading. I loved Square Haunting. My current reading is Tim Robinson’s book about the Aran Islands, which may also appeal to you: a detailed multi-year ‘pilgrimage’ around the coast of one tiny island, observing and noting down every possible aspect of a long, long inhabited history and the natural phenomena around that.
Ah yes, I have been saying for years I'd like to get into cross-country skiing. But not really a practical sport for someone who lives in the UK. Perhaps if we move further north.
I hadn't heard of Tim Robinson, but I've just looked him up and he sounds like exactly my sort of person. I'll look out for his books.
I love proper winters. In my late teens we had a series of these, culminating in the new year blizzard of 1982 when it snowed continuously for 36 hours. Happy memories!
Oh yes, I was in the womb when that happened. I think it still somehow made it into my personal folklore though. Perhaps it's why I enjoy really cold weather (something I don't think I've quite captured in this essay).
I'm exactly the same. I was in the womb during the coldest winter of the 20th century (1962/63) which could explain why I always head out on bike with GoPro whenever we get a real snowfall!
To be fair, I've just had a flick through the first few chapters of Full Tilt, and she does spend quite a lot of time hitching lifts in trucks during the first few weeks.
Intrigued by your ranking of seasons - but yes, always startled to remember the solstice is just the beginning, meteorologically speaking (personally a bit vexed by the lightening days, but I am apparently half troll). Off-grid week sounds dreamy... wish I could think of someone who would enjoy doing that! (not sure if a solo one might be a bit TOO hermitty?)
I really enjoyed doing it solo last year, but I think possibly I am also part troll.
I think it would also be fun to do it with a bunch of people with similar fondness for reading, writing and doing stuff outdoors. Could meet for dinner in the evenings and compare notes.
When I started riding a motorbike aged 17, my avid cyclist and motorcyclist Dad told me that real winter is February, knowing I would want to be riding all year round. I've never forgotten that and have found it to be particularly true in East Anglia and most places in Scotland.
I definitely relate to the anxious attentiveness, I love that phrase! My husband really struggles mood-wise from New Year until he is back from his skiing holiday or has had his birthday in February (usually both are close together) and I am constantly asking myself "yes but am I really fine? Am I sure I'm fine? Yes I'm actually absolutely fine but should I be?" as I thankfully don't have anything like the same difficulties.
Enjoy your retreat and belated Happy New Year to you!
That all sounds wonderful, though the best way to deal with winter is to take up skiing (ideally ski touring) so that the true excitement of the year comes with the dark and cold and white stuff coming out of the sky. (I’m going to be in Switzerland next week.) Enjoy your reading. I loved Square Haunting. My current reading is Tim Robinson’s book about the Aran Islands, which may also appeal to you: a detailed multi-year ‘pilgrimage’ around the coast of one tiny island, observing and noting down every possible aspect of a long, long inhabited history and the natural phenomena around that.
Ah yes, I have been saying for years I'd like to get into cross-country skiing. But not really a practical sport for someone who lives in the UK. Perhaps if we move further north.
I hadn't heard of Tim Robinson, but I've just looked him up and he sounds like exactly my sort of person. I'll look out for his books.
I did ski off the summit of Scafell once, but, yes, not the best English sport.
I love proper winters. In my late teens we had a series of these, culminating in the new year blizzard of 1982 when it snowed continuously for 36 hours. Happy memories!
Oh yes, I was in the womb when that happened. I think it still somehow made it into my personal folklore though. Perhaps it's why I enjoy really cold weather (something I don't think I've quite captured in this essay).
I'm exactly the same. I was in the womb during the coldest winter of the 20th century (1962/63) which could explain why I always head out on bike with GoPro whenever we get a real snowfall!
And that's when Dermal Murphy was setting out on her ride to India, as I'm sure you'll know.
Yes, I've always found that amazing. My snowy rides are rarely more than 15km!
To be fair, I've just had a flick through the first few chapters of Full Tilt, and she does spend quite a lot of time hitching lifts in trucks during the first few weeks.
Ha!