cold

November Fog

Morning Fog

When I woke up this morning, it felt like November. I don’t think I can really describe what November feels like, but I’ll try. To me, it’s blue light at dawn, cold icy fog, and blustry winds which make your cheeks turn pink and your body crave hot drinks. November is the leaves pouring off the trees in final effort to escape their masters, it’s the beginning crunchy chocolate mud puddles and of silver-white frost underfoot. November is the scent of chilled decaying dampness mixed with the intoxicating burning smoke from peat fires. It’s the need for hats, scarves, and warm woolen pullovers. It’s the first vision of the white cloud of your breath and the steam off the dog’s stream as he takes his morning walk. It’s November, and it’s a feeling that we’re just on the cusp of winter. Perhaps it’s best put into pictures…. as November is finally here.

Morning Fog

Somewhere in the picture above is a 7 storey building, that is 2 blocks away… Can you see it?

Morning Fog

Even the shopping mall is blurry in the fog and mist and blue light. It feels like depth perception as seen through a fish eye, but no, it’s just November.

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Day trip to Malahide Beach

Malahide Beach panorama

Back in the beginning of July, as I was walking the Everest Challenge, A, J, and I decided to head to the beach and have a nice afternoon walk.

Aoife, Jacqui, me

The weather was overcast, as is typical here in Ireland, and the water was freezing. It didn’t stop us, however, from slipping off our shoes walking on the tidal flats

Tidal flats

and then going for a bit of a wade into the salty water of Malahide beach.

I'm sinking! I'm sinking!

Despite sinking quickly once I was out in the water, I did have to laugh when A decided to get up to a bit of mischief…

splashy splash

by splashing J (who, like me, was shocked at how cold the water is!) to help her get used to it. Taking off with a cackle, she promptly sped out of range, so she couldn’t get splashed back herself…

Aoife's up to mischief

J took it with a fine sense of humor,

Jacqui & cold water

and very quickly, we were off to find the “perfect” bit of sand to dig our heels into – and leave our footprints behind.

Digging their heels in

It’s just a good thing it didn’t mess up our toenails!

Painted Toes

On the way back, we passed 3 old ladies sitting on a wall, overlooking the beach. As we paused to brush the sand off our feet and then replace our shoes, they commented on not only what a lovely day it was – but also how well we 3 younger ladies seem to get along. The funny thing was that somehow, I could picture A, J, and me, in 40 years, sitting on the wall – and see a reflection of ourselves in them. Just goes to show – the more things change, the more things stay the same.

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You know it’s cold when…

You know it’s cold when… (today’s top 10 list)
10. You bundle up to walk the dog and don’t care how you look anymore – as long as you’re warm.
9. The dog looks at you like “do I have to” when you open the door.
8. You kick the dog out the door, but don’t lock it for fear that the metal lock would stick in the metal door jamb and be impossible to re-open.
7. The dog walks on the pavement, picking up each paw, shaking it (to get it warm) and then repeats for each step as he’s walking – while looking back at you like the world is coming to the end. (Remember – I have a husky – a dog designed for COLD weather!)
6. You go back inside and realize you’ve lost all feeling to your fingers, toes, nose, ears, thighs, butt, and forearms – and you’ve only been outside for 10 minutes.
5. The bus driver waits until the last possible minute to open the door and then promptly slams it behind you – closing your jacket in the rubber flap and prompting you to “fall up the stairs” as you try to pull your coat out and show him your bus pass.
4. You wish the weather would just warm up to 35 degrees so you could unthaw.
3. Drinking lukewarm tap water feels like you’re drinking something really warm (hot coffee? tea? hot chocolate?) .. and you can feel it as it goes all the way down and coats the inside of your stomach.
2. You wear tights, long johns, jeans and knee high boots to work yet feel NO requirement to de-layer yourself once in the office (because it’s only slightly less windy inside – but nearly the same temperature as outside.)
AND… *Drum Roll please*….
The Number 1 way you know it’s cold is…..
1. You realize that the fingerless gloves you have worn at the computer desk the last 3 days aren’t keeping your hands/fingers warm anymore so you consider ski gloves – and request a new keyboard so you can continue working….
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