10 | May | 2011 | I choose how I will spend the rest of my life

“Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay –
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.”
~Charles Kingsley, 1819 – 1875 English priest of the Church of England, university professor, historian and novelist.

I know it’s winter because yesterday I had my annual flu injection.

via Wikipedia

Here in New Zealand these injections are free to all over the age of 65 and anybody with a life threatening condition. So I made an appointment with the GP and went along for my shot.

I was greeted by a nurse who introduced me to a trainee nurse and asked if I minded Melissa being there and would I allow her to administer the injection.

After asking how many she had administered before I was met with a beautiful smile to be told that she had been a ‘body piercer’ for 13 years before beginning her nursing training. There followed an interesting conversation on body piercing and oh yes, I did get the shot.

I know it’s winter because sweaters, scarves and umbrellas are the order of the day more often than not.

So much younger

The children are all muffled up against the cold as they walk past the house on their way to school.

They look absolutely miserable, whether from the weather or just simply because they would rather not go to school, who knows?

I know it’s winter because the heating is on every day now. While we don’t have the extremes of temperature that many places have, it does get cold here.

And it rains and the wind blows so it is great to come into a warm house after walking the dog, or grocery shopping or whatever.

I know it’s winter because Lotte doesn’t want to get out of the warm bed in the morning.

Too cold to get up

She looks so comfortable on my bed and only gets up when I move her so I can make the bed.

She does get more alive when the lead is produced, or the car keys come out and she know/thinks it’s time for a walk.

I know it’s winter because I can walk along deserted beaches with only Lotte and the gulls for company.

Photo - Bill Peters

The beach in winter is usually deserted apart from the seagulls and us. I can spend hours just looking at the distance and thinking without any disturbance from other people. On occasions I see nobody else in the hour or so that I walk the beach.

I know it’s winter because I have time to sit beside the fire and read some of the books that have accumulated in the pile during the summer months. And because I can’t get out into the garden I can spend some blissful, uninterrupted time with my books.

The weeds are growing apace with the rain that seems to fall constantly and it is so warm in here with my cup of tea

“Brew me a cup for a winter’s night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I’ll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.”
~Minna Thomas Antrim, 1861 – 1950, American writer

I know it’s winter because my son can have his fill of “Mummy’s Soup.

via Wikipedia

Since he was a little boy he has told everybody that nobody makes soup like his ‘Mummy”. So in winter, when I go to their house I take some soup. Enough for him to freeze and take to the office for lunch.

Isn’t it great how we can still please our children so very easily?

And because as Percy Byshe Shelley asks “If winter comes can spring be far behind?” I am posting my favorite rainbow knowing that spring will break through the gloom and rain and the world will awake from its long sleep once again.

My rainbow - looking forward to spring

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ” ~Edith Sitwell, 1887 – 1964 British poet and critic.