Anyone else already hating the wet, dark cold nights

I like Autumn, but dead in the middle of winter, no thanks. Last night felt like bedtime and it was only 7.30 . I’m the first out looking for buds on the flowering cherry trees

The way I see it is - November, the leaves on the trees are simply glorious and it's still good fun to kick through fallen leaves on a dry sunny day. December, Christmas. January, the first tiny shoots of snowdrops can be seen and the Hellebores are about to flower. February, snowdrops are out and other spring bulbs are poking their noses up. March - hooray it's spring, and hey ho the winter is done!

I'm pretty fed up with all the rain but ok with darker evenings. Really wish they woul stop moving the clocks twice a year though. Don't care if its forward or back an hour as long as it stays forever and doesn't move again.

I like to feel cosy with my artificial log fire and fairy light my Granddaughter arranged. A nice little table lamp and the tv on. My trusty hound by my side on the settee.

One problem is the trusty hound ( Curly white little chap with short legs) gets rather mucky this weather.

I don’t mind the cold but hate the rain and dark evenings. Much prefer cold weather to the intense heat we had in the summer.

Last week we took DGD for a riding lesson at a stables in the middle of Epping Forest. It was sort of magical and I had forgotten how exciting it is being out at night.
The arena had floodlights.
But the evening does get very long.
Stay cosy everyone!

Having lived in Scotland for 82 years, I accept the weather and dark nights when they arrive. I honestly don't think about it. It is only weather and I can't change it so I can't worry about it.

I tried to post earlier but it got lost!
So my second attempt, just to say I like all four seasons, so enjoy winter too.
I like preparing our home late afternoon/early evening by drawing curtains, switching lights on as needed and generally creating a warm, cosy atmosphere.
There is a.wool blanket at the ready when the heating goes off, to keep out the chill.
Having home-made soups and milk puddings are an added bonus.
So all in all, it's an enjoyable time of year.
Hoping I can successfully post this time!

One thing I have done indoors to combat some of the darkness is to put daylight bulbs in some of my lamps in the living room. They give a clearer, whiter glow. I have one in the lamp by my chair to make it easier to read and sew and it's on most of the time. It probably sounds a bit daft, but it's more like light coming in the window rather than the yellower glow from our other bulbs so it makes the room a bit brighter.

'Love the dark nights. Born in the worst month of the worst winter in living memory (evidently) I have always liked the warm glow of lamps, cosy rooms with candlelight, crackling fires and a good book. I detest scorching summers, sweaty faces, sleepless nights, and watching those who ought to know better exposing all in skimpy clothing. (Very judgemental, unkind, critical - yes, I know!)

Since ? Meant between Autumn & Spring and Soring not Soring !

Don't really like the dark evenings, especially when I have to go out for 8 p.m. dog training class. Living in a fairly isolated area there are no street lights and mostly woods either side of the road. I do have solar lights at my gate and along the 200 metre drive to the house, which makes homecoming comfortable. The lovely thing is that winter makes it easier to hear and see some of the wildlife around me - foxes 'chatting', badgers snuffling whilst they dig up the grass, the owls hooting in the trees above the house and even a few bunny rabbits. I feel they are all there to welcome me home!!! Last night the sky was a beautiful sight with so many stars, visible as there is no artificial light. I think there was a special line up of stars, but forget what it was called.

I don’t know if this helps but I started a list of thing to do each week since Autumn and Spring equinox. In a notebook each week I list things to keep me occupied, use a face pack, read a book, sort out one ( or half) a kitchen cupboard or drawer, get outside in the garden for 30 minutes once a week, Each week do 3 exercise dvds (YouTube have loads ) , spend 30 minutes 3 times a week doing a puzzle. Play dominoes with husband. Once a week walk 6km. It’s quite satisfying having something to aim for you can adapt it to suit your circumstances, I find that I often now spend longer doing things but to get over the initial inertia especially when it’s so dark and grey out you could just plan 10 or 15 minute activities. There are now 20 weeks until Soring equinox by the time Soring comes I will have nice tidy cupboards , be a bit fitter and have read quite a few books. Our library has puzzles you can borrow as well as books. I hope this helps I find the dark nights very hard too but this has helped me hopefully you might be able to adapt some ideas to help yourself feel better.

I am definitely an outdoor “girl” and find wet , dark weather difficult. However if it is freezing cold but with lovely blue skies I love it. Did a long walk yesterday in bright sunshine which really banished winter blues

Norah

Witzend

Norah

Still leaves falling...

TBH they’ve hardly started here. We have a big beech tree in the garden, still in full leaf, though some have changed colour.

Some are falling, definitely Autumn. Looks untidy. Clean windows help.

“Looks untidy”? Good heavens.That’s nature! I love fallen leaves, either scuffling through them or picking up the most beautifully coloured ones.

Now I’m retired the weather and the dark evenings don’t bother me at all, in fact I love being indoors, in the warm, doing my crocheting or reading.
It was very different when I was working; doing district nursing, driving all over the place and getting in and out of the car in pouring rain, sitting in wet shoes and clothes is not fun. Neither is trying to see house numbers and names with no street lights and only a torch!
I’ve learned to live with the weather, climate and nature.

Only 7 weeks to go till winter solstice then it will start getting lighter. Always the optimist.
On the minus side it is always. without exception , cloudy -here when there are meteors to be seen.

Noo we’re loving it, cosy wood fires, and for roasting chestnuts, lighting extra candles and fairy lights in the garden, ready to love spring when it’s here though 😄

It's the damp and wet I hate.
Steamy windows too. It just all depressed me even more

Yes !

What an extraordinary comment. I have spent several winters in Sweden, parts of them in the Arctic circle, and I doubt many there would agree with you. It isn't moaning to admit you feel depressed in winter - many people find darkness and lack of sunshine a problem.

However in the Arctic there is often snow so things are surprisingly light. Plus you get clear night skies quite often, lots of starts and sometimes the northern lights. Impossible in many parts of the UK.

When I lived in Sweden below the Arctic circle, I learnt to go to the shops/into town/somewhere between 1 - 2 rather than leaving home when it was already dark.
Or I would walk between 1 - 2 as the light began to fade and the sun, if it was there, begin to fade. I loved the skies at that time and the sounds.
I have continued to go for my evening walk here during the hour that dusk sets in. It makes a huge difference. Good luck Optimistic1

I hate grey days, cold and wet whatever time of year here in England. My son is desperately upping his campaign to persuade me to go and live with them in Australia (in my own granny annexe) and the older I get, the more I am tempted!luckily, I am going for three months early February and so looking forward to it!

I can cope with any amount of cold weather providing the sun is shining, I just hate the greyness.

Oh I feel your pain! Nowadays I have to encourage myself to come out of bed! But through the years I have acquired a list of activities that help (me) fight the winterblues 😊 I know I need to be outside to air my head and heart, preferably during daytime and even better with an open sky. Also : some decoration of the house, lots of candles, nice smells, getting that cosy throw out of hiding. No way I put up christmas deco already, will have time for that at the right moment. I love to read and choose wisely what I'll read. Nothing gloomy that is! And then rearranging my clothes always helps! I check all my summer-and springclothes, mend and alter where needed, wash and iron them carefully and then fold them carefully ready for....in a few months! Seeing friends helps too, now that they ánd we don't have pressing family obligations yet. And then spend as much time with our grandchildren is simply the best remedy!

I know we've had a lot of rain but also a few lovely sun rises and Northern lights, I've still got the summer duvet on but I don't particularly feel the cold, no central heating on except in the bathroom for a bit in the morning but do like pulling the curtains and having the very efficient log burner lit for a couple of hours in the evening. The dark doesn't stop me from walking to events in the Town Hall either but then I like the seasons, you're just getting fed up with one and another comes along🙂