Finding the beauty in winter

January 17 2012 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Anton Chekov, #Baltimore, #Ola Fagbohun, #Seasons, #Snap Away (travel photography), #Winter, #Winter travel

Hate is such a strong word, but it decribes pefectly my feelings towards winter, especially here in the UK.

This is the time of year, when like sensible animals I hibernate, stocking up on food, sealing my windows and doors, and making sure my take-out menus are up-to-date. Thank goodness for on-line banking and grocery shopping.

I hate the dark days; days so short of sunlight, that my mind is convinced it's 10pm when it's only 5pm; then there's the relentless cold rain, and don't get me started on the bitter ice-laden wind intent on biting off my nose.

So, every November, after another day of housr spent hugging a radiator to thaw mind and body and mind, I announce to family and friends, ignoring the eye-rolling and loud esapperated whispers of "Not again!" "As soon as I ... get that large contract / win the lottery / my megrea savings turn into a city bankers bonus, I am off; it'll be see you suckers."

But I am still here, hating the UK winter; As much as I hate the winters here, it's rare for me to travel anywhere where the winter could be colder. Yet somehow in 2010, I did. For the first time in my travels, I got caught in a Baltimore, USA, snow storm. Being far from home and crucially far from my many fashionable hot water bottles, my first instinct was to run back to the back to the warmth of hotel, but instead a funny thing happened. While trying to turn me into a snow woman, the thickening snow flurries gently dropped, covering the street and it's furniture with a soft, crunchy white blanket; I was awed by the beauty and purity of winter spread before me.

Now don't get me wrong, that was not my road to Damascus moment, all it did was to give me some insight into why those crazy people can't do without their skiing and other such winter holidays.

So, while I stiil hate Winter, I have learnt to appreciate that it's not all bad. My new found slightly positive feelings towards winter, are best ilustrated in this quote from the great Russian playwright Anton Chekov: