Reply To: [unofficial weekender] Hang in there!

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This week’s pledge – to get out more. Yes, I know the infected still live amongst us – and I’ve been lucky to date as I’m only half-sure I caught something before the global outbreak and managed to stay out of trouble since – but I think it’s time to meet some real people in real life.

Since it’s getting “the dark season” on our side of the planet: are you more a spring summer type or autumn winter?

I’m definitely a spring-kind of person. I quite like the autumn. The smells and the early morning mist makes me reminiscent for the times we lived on our narrowboat (autumn is just magical on the canals!). I’m not great in the heat, but I do love swimming in the sea and prancing about on the beach with an oat latte when the sun is out, so I quite like summer too. And there’s something a bit “daring” about being out in the dark, in a city – winter makes me feel young and cool and a bit edgy (though the persistent freezing damp that lives in your feet from about November onwards tends to remind you of your actual age).

But Spring is the best – everywhere starting to wake up again, and the promise of yet another brilliant year to come. If I could only have one season, I’d pick spring. But if I had a choice, I think I’d keep them almost exactly as they are.

Does the lack of sunlight affect you?

Not really. It used to, when I worked in an office and had to drive for 90 minutes to get to work – I’d leave the house in the dark, I’d get into the car to drive home in the dark, I hardly ever saw the sun. But working from home means I make time to go out during the day, no matter what the season (or the weather!)

Do you tend to be depressive and without energy in the dark times of year? If so how do you communicate that to others and let them help you?

I’m not that affected by the darker seasons – more by the weather. If it’s cold and wet, and I’m housebound for the whole day, I might get a bit grounchy by about day three. Any lack of energy can usually be fixed by going for a walk (and getting a coffee).

And now, I’m off to finish painting those two space marines I started the other day when I found a couple of part-assembled plastics under my painting table. And the Pop Minis He-Man set I printed a couple of weeks back. And the Scooby Doo gang I thought would be a quick-and-easy afternoon’s painting. And the muscle-bound “space-nam” gang I printed a while back. And those cyberpunk corp types…… and those……

Here’s your music. I was going to say “of course, it’s yet more 80’s hair metal” – except looking at the release date of the album, this one’s from 1991. But you get the idea…