The Pros and Cons of Winter (Blogmas Day 3)

At the time of writing I am sat on the sofa in my living room, which just so happens to have a proper fire in it.

Not a gas fire, or an electric fire or even a wood burning stove (as lively as they are) but a proper, in the grate, needs a big hearth and a rug incase it spits, fire.

 

This is how I know winter has arrived generally because we have to get the chimney sweep out in order that we can light the thing without filling the room with smoke and the coal man comes and fills up the coal hole in the garage. Winter has arrived and it it just marvellous.

 

But it's not all toasty fires is it? At the time of writing I also have really rather badly chapped lips, despite liberal applications of lip balm. Only a small thing yes, but the constant stinging is starting to irritate me now and I would be much happier if it just shoved right off and left me to enjoy the flamey goodness in peace.

 

So, I thought I would do a little list of the pros and cons of winter. It is by no way comprehensive and certainly isn't in any particular order just as they occur to me. At this stage, I have just as little idea as you do as to what they are going to be. Let's find out together shall we?

 

Pros of Winter

1. Soup: Oh yes. Soup. I know you can have soup any time of the year, gazpacho for instance is designed for the summer months, but I am talking about proper hearty soups that warm not only the body but the spirit too. Those sort of soups you don't crack out until the temperature drops and boy are they worth waiting for.
2. Hot Chocolate: In particular Christmas hot chocolates from cafés. Normally, I am not a fan of buying over priced drinks out and about because I am a bit cheap and I know I have access to free drinks either at home or at work. But at Christmas, there are exciting flavours and cute cups to be had. Who can resist!?
3. Cosy PJs: Is there a better excuse for new PJs than the fact that it's getting chillier? I am also including onesies and twosies in this because I LOVE THEM! If I could, I would spend the majority of my time in my nightwear. The choice of cute and fun designs is endless and they are just so much comfort than 'Human Clothes' (As my friend Rose has taken to calling regular outfits).
4. Movie nights (and days!): With the weather getting colder, you have the perfect excuse to stay in, curl up under a blanket and watch a good film, comedy dvd or do a box set marathon. Settle in and get comfy because you don't need to go out really do you?
5. Getting in from the cold: If you've managed to work the timer on your central heating so the house is already warm when you get in (you knew you would have to venture out eventually) it feels like you being defrosted. It is pure bliss to shake off the chill and melt away into point 4 above.

 

Cons of Winter

1. Layers upon layers upon layers : After establishing that coming in from the cold is great, sadly it does require that you go out in it first. And for me, that means layers! I get cold very easily and I do not like being cold which means I complain a lot if I am. This means I have to layer up during winter to the point of feeling like the Michelin Man. I will wear tights, leggings and socks under my jeans. Which I will then cove with winter boots. And while this stops me being cold, it also stops me being able to bend my knees.
2. It's SO DARK: Obvious but true. Winter means it's dark. Which makes me feel a bit fed up. Although I have to admit I have made it pretty far in without getting too down in the dumps this year which I feel is an achievement. But spending all the daylight hours at work is never a fun way to pass the time.
3. Shoppers: With winter comes Christmas (you wondered when that was coming didn't you?) but with Christmas comes Christmas shoppers. And Christmas shoppers clog up the town centre when I am trying to take my lunch break. My 1 hour of being out in actual sunlight per day. Get out of my way and let me have my vitamin D time in peace.
4. Christmas Shopping: In particular when you don't know what to get the person in question. I love giving presents, I really enjoy it, but I want to do it well and that can be hard when you have NO idea what to get someone. Give me a clue please?
5. Being ill: Everyone is ill in winter so even if you're not actually poorly yourself you are trying yo avoid getting one big or another. I commute. On a jam packed tin box of germs. And then I go to work in an office dealing with members of the public. Who are full of germs. And my co-workers come in from other locations where they have interacted with other groups of germ-tastic people. I'm not trying to be mean about the people on my train or the people I work with. We are all full of germs, myself included. It's just a wonder I'm not coughing up my own lungs for a greater percentage of the year.

 

I am pleased to report that I found coming up with the Pros list much easier than the Cons which is surely a good thing. I know there are many more for each category so please feel free to share your favourites and hates of this chillier seasons.

 

Love Charlotte xx

Tips for Commuters

Hello!

I start the majority of my posts with hello. But I never know how else to begin...

Today I would like to offer my pros and cons of commuting. I've been commuting to work for about 4 years. And I commuted to Uni for 3 years before that. I like to think that in 7 years I have basically become something of an expert.

 

Pros

 

1. Reading: Your commute might be 2 hours. Or it might be 15 minutes like mine. But either way, that time is yours. I do almost all my reading on the train because I get distracted at home. I'll get settled down to read and someone will shout, wanting something. Or there's something on TV. Or I'll just check twitter... My commute is a great excuse to get lost in a good book.
2. Listening: But not TOO loud. Nobody wants to be that person. But also, nobody wants to have to listen to those boring women over there talking about how they have 'brought pasta salad for lunch...' Again! You can listen to a podcast, an audiobook, the relaxing sound of the sea or just a cheery song to try and boost your mood. It's worth it.
3. Catching up on your texting: I am not brilliant at texting back. I like to use the commute to go through my inbox and see if there's anyone that I've forgotten to get back to.
4. Making lists: I love to make lists on the train. Whether it's my to-do list for the day or my dream pay-day shopping list, spending a few minutes making a list is either a great way to make your brain feel a little more organised or to have a little fantasy about what life would be like if you weren't on this darn train!
5. Researching stuff: If you have a smart phone or tablet device you carry around and your commute is WiFi enabled, this is a great opportunity to get some research done. Where you're going to go on your next holiday. What bank account you should move to. How to make creme brûlée for that dinner party you're hosting. Or... You could just go on Pinterest...
6. Making up stories: If you have forgotten all those items above you can always just make up stories about your fellow commuters. This is especially good if you have regular fellow travellers because the stories can evolve over time.
7. No traffic jams: Yes you get delays and leaves on the line but you don't have to sit in rush your traffic. You can just sit back and let someone else do the driving so you can get on with a selection of the above!

 

Cons

1. LOUD MUSIC: I know I mentioned this above but this is genuinely the most annoying thing. I don't want to listen to your tinny leaking music.
2. Loud phone calls: Can you see a theme? I appreciate that we all have to make phone calls on the commute sometimes, but please try and conduct them at a sensible volume.
3. Other people's dirty laundry: Okay, we've established sensible volume conversations are fine. But I don't need to know about your divorce, and who is getting custody of the child, and and how "You're not getting an #%*$?@*? penny! You're not even on the mortgage you $*?€&"
4. Irritating children: Ooo controversial. I know you need to travel with your child and I am mostly fine with this but sometimes you just wish the would Sit Down And Shut Up. I'm a horrible person. Deal with it.
5. Jam packed trains: Or a single decker bus when what you really need is a double. Sometimes you have to decide whether it really is worth cramming onto that sweat box or if you should just wait for the next one. How desperate are you to get home?
6. Getting home at the other end: So I get off my train and I'm home free! Nope. I have another 20 minute walk. If I drove in I could just pull up at my house, or even better if I lived near enough to walk I would just stroll home without having already done one journey.

 

Basically, my top tips are to try and enjoy it. If you get on the train/bus expecting to have a rubbish journey then you will. But if you look at it as an opportunity the you can really get a lot out of these minutes. Sure, you'd like a job that was around the corner but that's not how the world works. What you need to do is make the most of what you've got. So plug your headphones in, sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

Love Charlotte x