Winter: the relativity of being cold

I don't think it's any secret to followers of this blog that I'm not a winter fan. The cold, dark days in these northern climes are an annual challenge and it's the time of year when I miss South Africa the most.

Winter on the Highveld (the area where Johannesburg and Pretoria are located) was as good as it could be for me. Although the nights were often very cold when I lived there, the daytime temperatures were usually between 17 and 22 degrees Centigrade. I loved being able to walk in warm winter sunshine with only a jersey or light jacket on. Rain was a rare event, if at all, and the length of the day wasn't as different from the summer as it is here. With dawn arriving before sunrise and dusk falling after sunset, the amount of daylight meant I always went to work and came home in the light, which made a huge difference to how I felt about the day, especially when the skies were so clear. 

The only downside was the intensely dry air, which made the grass crackle and our skin like parchment.  We would habitually get electric sparks from brushing our hair or touching metal surfaces, and even from each other. It gave the concept of 'feeling a spark' with someone a new and literal meaning.

Things may have changed in recent years with weather becoming more intense everywhere, but South African winters suited me well, and, of course, during our winter, it's summer there so I've been looking enviously at their wonderfully warm summer temperatures: rarely too hot (this week in the mid to upper 20s), rain in the afternoons, and then repeat. So yes, I miss my old home very much, weather wise. 

Typical Highveld scenery in the winter

Naturally, I don't miss the crime aspect of living in the country's 'baddest' city. Although I was used to it and learned to live with it at the time (and indeed, in the early 90s it was at its worst ever recorded according to Wikipedia), I would probably be more nervous these days given that I've been living in the relative safety of the Netherlands for so long. But it's all academic now. The prospect of my spending more than a couple of weeks in South Africa is unlikely, and a holiday is about the most I could hope for.

But what's this all about? I'm sure you're wondering why I'm reminiscing with more than a bit of nostalgia about Johannesburg. Well, that holiday is one of my aims this year and I'm shopping around to look for affordable flights in the autumn. Since the pandemic, the cost of flights has risen dramatically so I've started my search already in the hopes I can find a way of getting there.

As for the winter here, I am aware we've been lucky so far. The photos and posts I've been seeing from friends and family in the UK and the US tell me we've been favoured. Even though it's been extremely cold here over the last week, we've had no snow other than one morning last week when Koos and I went to Rotterdam to meet our friend, Stephen Powell, who lives in Portugal. He had to come here for a meeting and we were thrilled to be able to get together with him in the Oude Haven, where we had coffee, then lunch, followed by a walk around the harbour. Sadly, it was a bit too cold to do more, but it really was great to see him again. 

I regret now that we didn't take any photos of our get-together, but I still have one from the last time we met Stephen in Huelva, Andalucia, back in January, 2023. 

Meeting Stephen in Huelva, Jan 2023

Now I come to think of it, we always seem to meet up in January: the first time we met him was in January 2020 at a bus stop in Estoi, north of Faro. We've corresponded and remained in contact ever since. I hope I'm not talking out of turn by saying Stephen is a wonderful travel writer. As a former Reuters' journalist, his books about his journeys through the Caucasus and Portugal are fascinating, as he digs into stories with a skill and depth most of us don't have. I'm very much looking forward to his next book about a recent three-month trip to Mozambique although I'll have to be patient for a while yet as it's still a work-in-progress. Here's a link to his two published books on Amazon if you're interested:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephen-Powell/author/B081B4JRB5

But going back to the snow the morning we went, the fall was quite heavy but fortunately short-lived or we might have been stuck. Even so, we had to take a slow and careful drive to the bus station where we could hand over responsibility for our safety to the professionals on our journey to Rotterdam. 

I should say that I do appreciate cold is relative and how we experience it is different for everyone. I've hated it since I was a child in London, and the winter of 1962 is imprinted on my memory as the time when I first registered how miserable it made me. If I were a Canadian, I'd probably consider what we have here to be very mild. In fact, for most Dutch people it seems to be perfectly normal too. Just the other day, I was walking Zoe when I saw a neighbour in his garden wearing shorts. It was -2C. I was wrapped up in thick coat, scarf, beanie and gloves, with snow boots on my feet. Even Zoe had her jersey on. There's no accounting, is there? He is obviously made of sterner stuff.

Here's a photo I took a few days ago when it was bitter but beautiful. The blue skies and sunshine with sub zero temperatures are infinitely preferable to today's grey mist and damp. That particular day reminded me very much of a Jo'burg winter morning. Right now, though? With a blanket on my knees, two jerseys and a dog by my side, I'm looking forward to spring. Not too long to go now...

Have a good weekend, allemaal, and I'll be back with more news soon.

PS As a footnote, I just want to say my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Los Angeles and its environs who have lost their homes and everything they own. I cannot imagine what they must be going through.

New Year and the first January storm

In the Netherlands, it's acceptable to say 'Beste Wensen' (Best Wishes) to greet someone you haven't seen since December up until January the 6th, but many people I encounter continue doing so when they see you for the first time in the new year. So, as I haven't been here since the end of last year, I feel entitled to say Beste Wensen to everyone reading this blog. Two days late, I know, but I hope you'll forgive me.

It's been a very busy first week of the year, I must admit. The first day of January was pretty miserable so we stayed put at home, but we always like to go to the coast as soon as possible. It's become something of a tradition and even though the 2nd was very cold, it was bright enough to warrant getting in the car and heading for the estuary.

We didn't spend all too long marching along the sea dyke; it really was bitter with a northerly wind blowing, but the sky was lovely. I particularly like this photo I took of the land from the dyke. The trees always remind me of guards, standing to attention. 

Out to sea, the sky was quite dramatic with the clouds racing over. We somehow ended up in the wrong place and not the beach where the dogs like to run, but I like what they call 'verdronken land' (literally, drowned land) too. During high tide, much of the growth is covered or infiltrated by the the seawater. We were there when the tide was out, and the verdronken parts looks quite densely covered and firm. However, I wouldn't risk walking on it. At best it would be very squishy and I don't even like to think of what the worst case might be.

That small golden blob in the photo below is Zoe, who thoroughly enjoyed scampering along the dyke. There are often sheep  there, so the smells were heaven to a small dog of extremely olfactory tendencies.

The following days were spent catching up with chores and taking down all the decorations. We'd had a lovely Christmas and a quiet New Year, but since we were doing some sorting out and de-cluttering, we thought we'd declutter the tree and the lights as well and put them away for next year. The only reminder left is the lovely collection of cards, which I'll keep for a while.

By this last weekend, the wind was picking up in preparation for our first 'hoolie' of the year. I don't know if it warranted a name but by Monday, it was gusting very hard and my poor daughter lost the cladding off the side of her vestibule. It was just ripped off by the wind, so yesterday, we tacked some tarpaulin over the gaping hole to protect it from rain until she can get some wooden planking to replace the plastic 'tongue and groove' that had come off.

That said, we had another lovely walk with a spectacular sky.

And our canal was pretty impressive as well. In the photo below, you can see the waves and whitecaps on the water, just as if it was a fast-running river. I don't think I've ever seen it so rough. Luckily, my Vereeniging and the Hennie H weren't affected. It's such a relief to have them close by, even when we're not on board. Unfortunately, Vereeniging's mooring situation makes it too difficult and too dangerous to get on board, when there's a big storm so we have to be sensible and not take risks. At least we can check on both boats easily, though.

Lastly, I'm not one for making NY resolutions. That's asking for trouble as I can rarely keep them, but I have resumed writing the sequel to my novel, The Skipper's Child, and I hope I can manage to finish it before the summer. I've also decided to do some drawing and aim to do just a small sketch every day, if I can. How long I can keep it up I don't know, because next week I start giving an eight-week course for twenty students, which will involve a lot of feedback and marking, but I'll do my best. There's also my daily Duo Lingo to do, as well as the inevitable list of DIY projects I need and want to complete. I must write a list, though, as otherwise I'll forget the lot and end up doing other things entirely!

One thing I definitely resolve to do, though, is keep up with my blog!

So, at the very least 2025 isn't going to be boring, is it? What are you all planning? I'd love to hear your aims or dreams for the year, allemaal. 

Here's a photo of Zoe just to finish off with, for Rebecca of course!

2024 roundup

Well here we are on the last Monday of the year. Since I didn't manage a pre-Christmas post, I thought I'd better finish off the year in style and do a final fling for 2024 before giving you all my New Year's good wishes. It's actually as much for my benefit as yours as it helps me remember what we've done this year; otherwise, I'd be at a loss.

So, starting with January, the big event in my life was having to say goodbye to my beloved little Daihatsu Cuore, Buttons. That hurt a lot and I'm still not sure if taking her to the scrapyard was the right thing to do. But more about that later. January was also the month I, with the help of my daughters and some cement mixing from Koos, installed the French drain along the side wall of the house to help alleviate the damp problem in the Crumbly Cottage's kitchen wall. We also had a spell of very cold weather, which was a first for Zoe. If she'd ever seen frost before, it was from the doors of a kennel cage, so she was fascinated by it.

In February, I met up with my sister's daughter and her husband in Dordrecht. We had a lovely lunch and walk around the city, which I enjoyed tremendously. Zoe had a visit to the poodle parlour, which she absolutely did not enjoy (look at that face) and I bought a new car at the end of the month. Bobby the Panda joined the fleet. I bought him from a garage not too far away after having first bought a Kia, which I'd had to return as the electrics were faulty. Luckily, I was given a full refund, but I had to go searching again. It was then that I regretted getting rid of Buttons, but so far, Bobby's proved to be reliable.

Dordrecht with my niece

Bobby the Panda

What a miserable little face.
"Mummy, you've betrayed me!"

In March, the first highlight was a walk on the beach with my daughters, Mo and Jo, Mo's partner and his daughter, along with all the dogs. Then, Jo and I had an interesting walk along the big locks at Terneuzen (well, the dogs found it interesting, anyway (I did to!)), after which Koos and I took a trip down to the Haute Marne and discovered the beauties of the canal and river Marne valley south of Joinville. 

A walk along the locks in Terneuzen
looking out to the estuary

The quayside at Froncles on the Canal between
Champagne and Burgundy

An aqueduct over the Marne River

As we all know, April comes with sunshine and showers, so there is always a sudden burst of growth and green. Babies are born in the animal world and I was able to start maintenance work on Vereeniging again. Nothing dramatic or interesting, but such a relief after the short, cold, winter days. Zoe, of course, featured large in most of this. She finds the animals fascinating and often sits watching the horses, sheep and chickens that populate our environs.

May was distinguished as the month I built the wainscoting in the kitchen at the Crumbly Cottage. We were also able to spend more time on board Vereeniging and even managed a spuddle on the Hennie H, which felt quite triumphant after the months of being harbour bound.

Just ready for painting

View from the hatches

Zelzate: the extent of our spuddle

In June, despite the evidence of my photos, it seemed to rain constantly, so we contented ourselves with planning our summer trip and enjoying the garden whenever it was possible.  Nevertheless, nature kept on doing its thing and we had some beautiful blooms in the garden and along the roadside. The poppies were glorious. We also had a festival in the village which featured a vintage car festival. I was instantly attracted to the Karmann Ghia shown below as I used to have one of them and loved it. In fact, it's my favourite car of all time.

Stormy skies from the garden

Glorious poppies galore

We'd really hoped to get away in July, but again, the weather gods refused to cooperate. Not only that, there were a few appointments that needed to be kept, so Koos made a foray into France, unfortunately during the first heatwave of the year, while I finally finished the wainscoting, renovated the kitchen floor and repainted the stairs. It was extremely hot for more than a week, but at least it gave me courage our holiday.

Wainscoting painted

Beautiful meadow flowers

re-vamped staircase

At last, in August, we were on our way, this year to Belgium only. We'd originally planned to go to Calais along the canal parallel to the coast and then back east, but the lock at Dunkirk was out of use, so we had to remain in Belgium. As it happened, we had a wonderful time, going instead to the border village of Roesbrugge on the Ijzer and then to Ieper (Ypres) and Diksmuide (Dixmude). The weather was stupendous and we thoroughly enjoyed our relaxed trip, finishing up in Lokeren on the Moervaart to the east of Ghent. At the end of August, we had a visit from a long-time friend from South Africa, which was really lovely. We hadn't seen Bobs (as I call her) for years, but it was as if we'd never been apart.

Faring around Brugge (Bruges)

Moored up in Veurne

On the upper Ijzer going to Roesbrugge

On the Plassendale to Nieuwpoort Canal

Lokeren

L to R, daughter 1, Jodie and Bobs

September came and the good weather remained. I made a trip up to the small fortified town of Willemstad for a shanty choir festival. I met my daughter 2, Mo, and we enjoyed the singing as well as a glorious walk around the fortifications. Koos and I then spent a few days back in our now beloved Haute Marne. In fact, the sun shone the entire time we were away and it was really quite beautiful.

Willemstad

Lafferté-sur-Aube in the Haute Marne

October saw a return to my university work and a winding down from the summer. We felt so fortunate we'd had several weeks of sun, heat and dry days. The weather became changeable again and although I enjoyed a beautiful, warm day in Rotterdam – ostensibly to go to the dentist – but also to see some friends, Koos's subsequent visit to Slovakia left me doing chores at home because it was too wet to work outside most of the time. To compound the sense of reality biting, Zoe developed a nasty ulcer and needed antibiotics, but luckily, she recovered quickly. When he came home, Koos took us on another spuddle on the Hennie H, this time round to Vereeniging's harbour, so I could do some maintenance, using the HH as a pontoon. She's very handy for that :)

October morning skies

October afternoon. The same view!

Rotterdam's Leuvenhaven

A spuddle to Vereeniging's harbour

November? Well, what can one say about November. It followed its reputation and we had rain, mist, storms and high winds on the menu, but to brighten up a typically dreary month, Sinterklaas, a Spanish bishop turned benefactor of all good children, arrived in our harbour, as he does every year. This event meant moving Vereeniging to make way for his Lordship who needed my gangplank to disembark. The day we moved was wonderfully calm, but very gloomy. The return was sunny, but with high winds. Guess which trip was easiest in a barge with no bow thruster? (A bow thruster is a helper propellor set into the bow, which assists the skipper when manoeuvring). Koos took these photos of the great man's arrival on November the 16th,

Sinterklaas arrives in our Historic Harbour

So that brings us up to date in December. Today is the 30th, and in the last month, it's been by turns, very cold, very wet and very stormy. We had one last spuddle with the Hennie H early in the month, again to Vereeniging's mooring to do some maintenance, but on both boats this time. With the inclement conditions, we didn't stay too long, but it was great to be out on the water again. Other than that, I've had work commitments to finish up and, as mentioned in an earlier post this month, I sent my latest travel memoir into the world.

Christmas was a lovely get together with family and we were seven around our little table at the Crumbly Cottage, plus three dogs. In the days since, we've been relaxing and pottering about, awaiting the moment we can celebrate the dawn of 2025 and look forward to spring, with its longer days, new growth and frothy blossoms. I can imagine those of you in the northern hemisphere are looking forward to it as much as I am! All you summer souls in the south? Well, maybe you're looking forward to cooler days?

In the meantime, Happy New Year allemaal!

The December cruise

Christmas pups