After the harshest winter, in many years, my health was at an all time low. My chest, problematic, to say the least. With asthma, and my exhaustion syndrome, I couldn't walk, or breathe outside. I felt bad. Really quite ill from M.E., and dreadfully unfit because I could not get outside much. It was an all time low for me. After such a bitter winter, the cold, lasted right up to Easter. We were all hanging out for spring, for some Easter sunshine. Over that supposedly spring period, it still snowed. It was as if the heavens had a backlog of the white stuff, and Jack Frost had nowhere else to go. So, over Easter, it snowed again, the world turned white. Deep enough to cover the town with a deep, and beautiful crust. Cold enough to trigger asthma attacks every time I went out in the cold, then tried to come in again. We, the poor, maleigned, people here, suffered a full eight months of harsh winter. Everyone had enough, myself in particular. Desperately needing warmth, which, even inside the home, was very expensive. I shall be paying it off for the next year, at least. Or, waiting for some sun, which didn't come, I hardly left the house for months. I became a hermit. A hermit with headaches, aches, and pains, and vomiting spells...when I didn't have asthma attacks.
Therefore, when the weather began to warm up, I was out in it every minute I could. I needed the sun, I needed cheering up, and I needed to soak up the vitamin D. I hoped to be able to gradually improve my fitness level. I was really unfit after so many months, virtually housebound. My body gradually started to get that sun glow, and my outlook, optimistic. Ahhh, I thought, ecstatic at the sight of the sun. Hoping it would last for a while.
Then, my mother, living overseas, became ill, more seriously ill, I should say. Ninety this year, so it's an age no one takes any chances with. Soon, I was on my way. By the time I arrived, the worst had come, and gone. She was again, frail, but surviving. What a relief!
The weather I encountered here, in the opposite hemisphere, was winter, cold, wet, and at times, freezing. So much for a tan, and building myself up, I realise. I was tired, jet lagged, and only just realizing I had left the Summer, once more behind me. There were all sorts of problems to sort out. Some of my mothers, and her property, some of mine. Elapsed driving licence, car to find, financial restrictions of all types. Too numerous to mention. All of this, and needing to find a home, from home too. Somehow, I got through. My family stepped in, with some accommodation, and a friend with a car. As time went on, I relied on all sorts of help from those close. It has been stressful, in all kinds of ways. It's not the easiest of taks to be a guest. How much do you help. How much do you buy. How much can you fit in. This was not the least of it. I must also cope with poor health, my own, and my mothers. As well as dealing with the cold again.
During these preceding weeks, the problems have changed, but in no way gone away. With family help, my mothers house has been refurbished, repaired, and repainted. Hard work without being fully fit, again it was not possible without help. The house updating, something she insists she wanted for ages. I do hope we have done right, so many difficult decisions. I have had ongoing changes of occomodation. As well as strangled finances, and too frequent changes. Sometimes, not recognisomg where I am when I first open my eyes in the morning. It's been trying, and hectic. Now though, her health has stabilised. Her house, almost done, as am I. It is an exhausting way to spend this amount of time. Despite this, I survived the bad weather, and at last early summer is here. Heralded with a few odd days of sunshine.
Now, of course, its time to return home. Things have been complicated enough without having to stay longer. Only two more places to stay, then it's the aeroplane, and home to Blighty. Torrential rain last night, but some sun today, promising good weather to come. However, a dreadful thought struck me, with the force of blizzard. The long English Summer has finished at home, and now the frost is back. People are staying in, instead of going out. Folks are hibernating.
Without the long summer to get fit, nothing much has changed. I may have lost a little weight due to rushing around, and exhaustion. I tried to help, with a minimal amount of swimming, in a leisure centre. Apart from that, I have to become accustomed to the idea of travelling back to winter, without there being one bit of a real summer for me first.
If someone told you, you were going to have spend three winters, one after another, with NO SUMMER...how would you feel?
Well, I feel the same! except with bells on! I am now going to scream, as loud as I can through sheer frustration. If I can summon enough energy. Please think of me, as you enjoy your sunshine, or even look forward to some very soon....because I am still waiting!
When does Summer 2014 begin?
A tale of woe, and lost summers
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