13th January 2025
December started so good, I even shaved my legs! And now, since new years eve 2024, it's been completely rubbish, I've been wearing my woollen jerseys for chris'sake!
Now don't get me wrong.. I am in full appreciation that we are not burning (RIP Los Angeles), nor flooding, freezing over, blowing over (cyclones), having earthquakes or volcanoes erupting (knocking wood right now), nor in a tight drought. But man, a little bit of consistent warmth for summer would be nice.
It's actually getting me really quite shitty. Not only do I feel like I'm getting SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in what is supposedly our middle of summer, but it's slowing allll my lovely fruit wine ferments right down, plus making me feel outrageously dangerous getting up on ladders to harvest fruit (or asking my tall teen to climb said ladders). That cool southerly coming through a'int just cool, but strong.
Yes. I'm whining and moaning, but I trust that not many people read this blog so I can freely have a little whinge and get it all off my chest!
It's apparently meant to get better; and that's great... but I'm not putting my hopes on that. I saw the Pohūtukawas. They bloomed late, a sure indication of a short summer.
So, to make an effort in feeling better, I picked a whole load of weed flowers and one cultivated (the hydrangea) and made a whole lot of bouquets for the house.
It's helped. Flowers are amazing. I remember reading, Lynda Hallinan, I believe, saying, if you get into vege gardening you will soon come around to flowers despite what you think. So true, but I'm still an accidental flower gardener, the self seeders and perennials only survive!
I also put in my submission against the Treaty Principles Bill (closing date 14th Jan), and the Regulatory Standards Bill, a new one that hasn't got to committee yet, but needs to be stopped in its tracks before it slips in without Māori community input. Made me feel good and proactive outside of own glum.
Anyway. If you're feeling glum about this summer in NZ, and feeling like you're not being appreciative enough with all the shit that's going around the world... you're not alone xxx