The weather has taken a turn for the worst and 'they' say it's going to be bitterly cold this Christmas. On this side of the pond by 3pm it's already getting dark, giving an illusion the day has already ended. If you're a 'nine to fiver' you can get caught in that cycle of wishing your life away in the rat race cycle of wake>>work>> home>> sleep. If care is not taken one could start to feel rather 'low' and presenting SAD syndrome.
A quick copy and paste job from Google defines "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. SAD is sometimes known as "winter depression" because the symptoms are more apparent and tend to be more severe during the winter. The symptoms often begin in the autumn as the days start getting shorter. They're typically most severe during December, January and February.
And before our brothers and sisters on the other side of the pond start to snigger and say "Look at these indulgent yeye 'overseas' people 'SAD ko SAD ni' gerrouttahere"
Hear me out "It is a true"(sic) these months can be so, for want of another word, 'depressing'. Unlike back home where December is very much month of parties and jollification where we can wear our lovely lightweight fabrics and mingle in the humid evening breeze, here it's a different ball game altogether though I guess it's all rather subjective, as there are possibly some party animals among us who have a very busy social calendar this festive period, cold weather or no cold weather! But question is how much does one actually enjoy one's self when partying over this cold wet damp season?
Let's start by looking at our mode of dress. For the ladies, it's very much all about the little black dress, black trousers, black top with a few miserly sequins paired with those black opaque 60-100 denier tights (if you don't want to freeze to death) Then we attempt to jazz up the outfit with some sparking jewellery. The whole outfit draped in black coat! 3 over 10 for effort! Sandals with pretty painted toe nails in sub zero temperatures? I doubt that very much, more like black boots unless you are a brave 'style over comfort' type of person. But point is even if you are driving to venue at some point you will be exposed to the elements as you walk from car to venue, it's never pleasant is it in these temperatures? Likewise something takes the shine off a lovely tied yellow gele (head wrap) worn during winter with a coat or shawl thrown over the rest of your gorgeous outfit!
The guys could possibly have better deal than us, as they can suit and boot yet keep their swags, look cool, feel comfortable and still keep warm. Though this could be a different story when they wear traditional wear.
And talking of naija men in traditional wear and winter, a friend has always said that he knows it's time to pack his load and move back to Naija, the day that he finds himself as the oldest person seated on 'The high table' at a party in London during winter wearing a rolled neck also known as turtle neck jumper peeping out from the top his agbada, smelling of Deep Heat rub aka mentholatum rather than perfume as this confirms one has become a true "Daddy London" he claims he'd rather return to his village and become a respected elder there!
And that is very much our reality here, see all the 'factors' we have to overcome just for a night out?
A fav past time of mine during these drab winter evenings is to make a quick round robin to touch base with my homies. We cheer each other up by calling around and covering matters arising. This week the topic making the rounds was the controversial deportation of 48 of our country men/women from the UK back to Naija on Wednesday morning. Apparently these are the first batch of the 29,000 nigerians 'they' have on standby ready for deportation. 'Our' people have raised questions over the legality of these deportations and have made allegations that the government here entered into some shady arrangements with 'our' High Commission to hasten these deportations. As I call my friend (you know yourself!) I'm in no way making light of the severity of deportation, but my opening line is that I called to make sure that she's ok and 'they' have not 'carried' her back to the homeland. She giggles and says the reality of deportation makes her shudder and if faced with such a dilemma she's not sure what would be worse, the thought of being stuck back home living under the thumb of her mother again and being treated like a child or being transported back to the in-laws family home living by their rules! We both conclude that one should be grateful for what is thrown ones way and count one's blessings.
Next I touch base with a 'younger one' of mine, on this winter's evening she's been dozing on the couch feeling really tired and lethargic she says she could do with some real good banter to make her laugh. As we flit from topic to topic her phone beeps with an incoming message, she scrolls through and hisses and goes into a mini rant! Why oh why do people send 'those' messages, you know the type! These purported inspirational quotes usually make the rounds on Whatsapp, Facebook etc 'patronising' is putting it mildly. I really wish I could find one to copy and paste here on blog for us to analyse, but the truth is I never read them I just delete, you know where the quote is going from the first line, they usually start off along these lines:
"Who is woman?
A woman is multi-tasker
She is a cook
She nurses her kids
Even though her back hurts and she is in pain she continues to work (is she a donkey???)
She is listener, the shoulder to cry on, the voice of wisdom, the adviser.
She wipes the tears from children's face while hiding her own tears,
She is a chauffeur, nurses and nurtures her family for no remuneration blah blah blah
All you men out there, appreciate your woman.
Send this to all the wonderful women out there and 5 men that appreciate their women and know their worth"
LIKE SERIOUSLY! We both have a good time tearing apart the quote and wondering why any woman would read such and feel good about herself. In a roundabout manner the quote had brought a smile to our faces this late evening even if only for the wrong reasons!
Anyone care to share how they keep up-beat and make the most of these autumn months? I also wonder if our sunshine based readers have any particular times in the year that they also find trying.
On that note, let's thank God it's Friday and have great weekend. Thanks for your custom.
If life throws pepper at you....make pepper soup ~ unknown
8 comments:
the final words say it all "if life throws pepper at you........
so life has dealt me it fair share of lemons, but I got a good recipe for lemonade, bottled it, sold it and made profit! Shikena!
I spoke to some Niger based friends yesterday and I dared to suggest (after listening to their banter) that they were having a mid-life crisis.
they found it funny because like SAD they considered it an across the pond problem which didn't affect them.
The scientist in me recognises that the natural instint in living things is to hibernate in unfavourable weather such as winter is for humans.
The best solution for SAD is get your well winterproofed glad rags on and get out there.
Duvet and Sofa days are the work of the devil in the winter!
I wish life would throw emerald and diamonds at me instead of pepper!
As I lie in bed, I admit I am finding it hard to leave my bed and catch the train each and every day. I have stopped receiving chains because I say to the sender don't send those type of messages to me. Need to drag myself out of bed now. Feeling SAD.
SAD - what is the meaning of that. I grew up in Nigeria. Come rain come sunshine you have to be out there fending for yourself and the family. If you are not out there making money, the whole family will suffer. It is either hot or cold, dry or wet or day and night. There is no time difference in Nigeria like we have in winter or summer here. However, I agree that it can be depressing here in winter like Risi said. Life is definitely a lot easier in summer in all respect than in Winter. I can survive on day light. There is just something about day light, it makes you want to get up, go out, it is like a tonic, I just love day light. I make the best of winter as life does not come to a standstill, we still have to do all the usual.
Carols, lights, decorations, shoppers, shopping, sales are a few things that we can all look forward to in the next few weeks. These are not so depressing. Christians / Muslims and all, enjoy this season of good will and be lifted.
Let's make the best of this season, it is all around us, not so depressing after all.
ms Jackson well said.
Mommy I agree with Risky, winter can be a bit depressing, it's as if the fashion designers are also at one with season. What I can't understand is why every where it's all dull and gloomy, winter coats, jumpers, cardigans all in blacks brown and greys.
When one visits the west end- Oxford street etc and one sees what has been done with the lights one then comes to appreciate the beauty of the season.
Nobody has it all. Nigerians or Africans have beautiful weather but are graced with ill functioning utilities and corrupt officials. And that would be the topic of discussion at their end, while on this side the discussion is mostly around was there frost on the car this morning etc
But please don't let's mention the issue of turtle neck under agbada- It's really not by force.
I guess my friend Buhari won't have that problem - dress wise. He has been out and about recently.
Oh Dear! after all my shakara, I have just spent the day sitting on my bed, under my Duvet! In my defence though, I was working and I emerged from under the Duvet every now and again to get coffee!
Note to Self: get a life!
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