I read a great article in the guardian this week by the gardener Alys Fowler, entitled Some like it cold, about embracing Winter and the outdoors. I love this paragraph from the article
” For winter is about the joy, perhaps a little perverse, of finding pleasure in discomfort. There is no greater glow than that of finding warmth. The cold hands around a hot flask of tea, unwrapping your outdoor layers in a warm room, sitting next to a steaming bath in the damp, chilly bathroom: the joy in all of these is the counterpoint, the moving from the place of discomfort to that of comfort.”
Even if it’s just a walk round the block, making the effort to get out in January and February, really does make a difference to my well being. We haven’t done our microadventure yet this month, but we have been busy, getting up close and personal with the weather.
I’m back to running 3 times per week (it’s been interesting in gale force winds), even had my eldest daughter join me last week.
Visiting an old place, but finding new things at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I recommend visiting just to see Roger Hiorns crystallised bedsit, it is stunning, and such an interesting idea. The kids loved it, and we ended up buying a crystal growing kit to have a go ourselves (on a smaller scale!).
My favourite find was the Niki de Saint Phalle Buddha, why have we never discovered this before, Niki was a self taught artist who felt inspired to create after visiting the Gaudi’s Park Guell in Barcelona. The Buddha is stunning, and just what was needed on a grim, blustery winter’s day.
She also designed the Place Igor Stravinsky fountain outside the Pompidou Centre in Paris. I love this connection. The Place Igor Stravinsy was one of my girls favourite spots when we visited Paris last year.
I’m back to volunteering one day a week at my local nature reserve too. The thought of hard graft in the cold and wet really didn’t appeal this week, but once I get stuck in it really is worthwhile. We were removing willow from one of the reedbeds ready for the spring, it really is a magical place.
So, I haven’t melted or been blown away or died of hypothermia, I feel happy. Wrap up warm and get yourselves out whatever the weather.