Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to drop everyone a line to say that no, I haven't disappeared off the ends of the earth, and no I haven't fallen out with everyone.
I really struggle at this time of year when it's pitch black when I get up and then pitch black when I come home from work - in effect, I tend to hibernate!
This means I get home from work, make tea and then crash out on the settee watching the box. I'll keep checking up on the Vine when I can, but rest assured, I'm still here, just in hibernation!
Just wait until next Spring when I wake up refreshed and raring to go!
Best wishes to everyone. Dexterdoglancashire

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Hi DDL
No need to apologise - this time of year gets to a lot of people like that. I don't get bothered with going to work and coming home in the dark, I just get hacked off at not being able to get any time to tidy the garden in preparation for the madness and mayhem that is springtime.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

DDL like Rat said no need to apologise to this crazy bunch of grapes! Enjoy your hibernation and we will see you again in spring! In the meantime I am going to try some of your recipes!

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Thanks Lesley! will do my best to keep popping in and out of the Vine - spent yesterday and this morning doing the christmas recipes - lots of lovely pressies for friends and family this christmas methinks! Dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I'm usuallly OK at this time of year as I'm so busy sorting for Christmas it's January that always gets me down, still loads of darkness and winter to go and nothing to look forward to! Read something the other week about how common it is and that we all need to try to get outside whenever there is any winter sun, something about vitamin D deficiency. Didn't really understand the science bit but I do know that if I get out on those really sunny crisp winter days it certainly makes me feel better.

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Hi DDL, the trouble being in spring you will be out in the garden/lottie that much, sowing all your lovely veg, we will probably all disappear off the vine.

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Bex

Glad to hear you are ok DDL, I was beginning to get worried about you (missing your posts tbh), but can sympathise with your feelings about the time of year! I find it hard to get motivated even to go to work, love getting up early when the sun is out in the spring / summer, but this time of year I just want to stay in bed!

I suppose it may be something to do with the fact that we are programmed to rise with the sun and go to bed with it, our ancestors must have lived according to the seasons for millenia before the advent of electric lights and tv that means nowadays we stay up long past sunset!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

Thanks everyone - I've actually just had a nap for 2 hours! Not sure if I suffer from SAD (seasonally .....something disorder!) not sad Snadger! I actually have one of those lights that you can use during the day which has daylight tubes in it to make your body think it's getting more daylight than it actually is - it's a bit slow to work this year.....ah well, keep taking the vitamins and using the light methinks. Dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Is there any room on your settee for me? I haven't got a tele and I also go into hibernation.

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My Blog - http://multiveg.wordpress.com/
Photo Album - http://www.flickr.com/photos/99039017@N00/

Hello DDL, great to see you there. Hope you're just feeling a bit down in the dumps with the dark days and not actually in a depression. (SAD - seasonal affective disorder is depression associated with the seasons). The good news is after the 23rd Dec the days get lighter by 4 mins a day, and you notice the difference by the time we get to January, so maybe you'll at least get home from work in daylight then. Keep your chin up. Plan for Christmas and then for the spring. Keep us posted.

Can empathise and sympathise DDL! Suffer from SAD myself and hibernate until the first warm days of March! I hate having to work and go out and about in the dark and cold! Really battle. Just started a new job so doing ok so far this year. Keep smiling see you in the spring!

Dexterdog
I was wondering where you were, what a bind for you, but do keep looking in, might make you feel better!
I love the winter and the dark mornings and evenings what I hate is getting togged up for the winter, it takes ages to get dressed, all those thermal layers, I think my personal record was 21 garments last February as opposed to just four in the summer. As for that awful moment when you have to retire to the shed for a pee, doesn't bear thinking about.
Sue

Hi DDL, glad to hear that you are relatively ok. Don't worry about things, focus on you. We think Mr E also has SAD as he would hibernate given half a chance. It's not much fun and if you work indoors all those hours getting enough daylight is really tough. Have you tried St. John's Wort? That has been shown to be helpful for SAD. Also grapefruit essential oil, especially if you can get some organic stuff. As Alice says it won't be long before the days start to lengthen again and we will all soon notice the difference.

Take care and catch you soon.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

We all go thru periods when we don't get to log on (it happened to me earlier on in hte year. But I agree with you about not seeing any daylight - I hate this time of year as I can only get up the lottie at weekends ..... it usually rains at the wekkends round here

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I'm a bit like you DDL in the hibernation stakes; the difference being I'll quite happily prattle on on here and other forums (not gardening ones I hasten to add!), but won't actually go outside and brave the weather to do anything gardening related. Like you say though, it'll all kick in come Spring.

I sympathise DDL. I do amateur dramatics during the winter months and this year is panto. Its pretty hectic, but nice to have such a great buzz during our dark days. We are just hitting the really "dark" days now, especially like today, as it has been so overcast, its been dark nearly all day. BUT I have my photos of the longest day to remember how good it can be!

Hi multiveg - you are more than welcome (I've got two settees!) but it may be a bit of a squeeze, what with me and then Dexter spread out on the other settee! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

You have all been so kind - and it has been lovely reading your advice and help, and it has made me feel better! I will try and log on as much as I can, but I just didnt want anyone to think I'd disappeared without saying anything. Dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

NIck, to see any daylight you have to venture out of your hut and stop cuddling the tea cup! LOl

Iv'e seen your plan for the new plot in your Blog btw....you like your tatties don't you?

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Hi everyone, I hate this time of the year too. The only thing that makes me get up to go to work is that if I don't I can't pay the rent.

I'd thought about trying one of the SAD lights, Boots do one now, but it's about £75 - that's a lot of money if it doesn't work.

Same here with only getting to the allotment at weekends this time of the year, and it's rained every weekend for the last 4 weeks - I'm starting to take it personally.

Still, three weeks to go to the shortest day and then it should start getting better.

Hi rustylady - thanks for your support. Unfortunately Im having a real bad time at the moment. Making the most of the time I have getting onto the Vine. Hey ho - roll on the longer days! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I really sympathise. I've started to feel like it's too much trouble. Shorter days and waning moon don't help. We've got some lovely weather this weekend but Mr E is away studying so we get out very little. Like you RL I go to work because I have to to pay the bills when I can think of more than enough things to be doing which will be valued. I've still got your address DDL so I could pop a little something in the post if you like.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Hello DDL don't feel bad about your reaction to the darkness, as another human animal I feel exactly the same, and in fact worry about folks who try to live apart from the natural system. Him outside used to work shifts and it nearly killed him - bodily functions went awry and nearly took his mind with them.
Do what feels right, soon we can celebrate the coming of longer days.

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat