Getting through the night

         As a regular insomniac, I suppose sleeplessness as a subject, will keep raising its head with me. It's such a, I don't know, annoying part of my life. Last night, after several bad nights this week, I think I must have slept a good six hours, a good span for me. Waking some time ago, in the pitch black, and not knowing the time. I crept, carefully to the toilet, not wanting to wake others in the house, along the long corridor, past their rooms. After so many years of insomnia,  I find I am excellent at creeping about in the dark. I can do most things without having to resort to putting on a light. Determining to sleep again, I soon slid just as quietly, back into bed. Only to lie there for an interminable time. Was it an hour, or was it hours? I don't know, only that the longer I am awake, the colder, and hungrier I become. 

          Now, I won't eat in the middle of the night, for one, my strange digestion would not allow it, or at least react. Two, it's a bad habit to get into too. I have a son, who is a keep fit fanatic. Awake, he watches his diet, and exercise programme closely.  Except, on a regular basis, he finds himself half awake, in the middle of the night, helping himself to whatever he can find in the fridge. Eating the wrong foods, and the wrong quantities. He laughs about it, but I know it bugs him, as it should. Undoing his perfect plan for himself, and his health. I have set my self some rules, to avoid just that situation. Normally, I am good at sticking to it. Eventually though, tonight, this morning, or whatever it is, I had to get up. I had to give in. Putting on a thick dressing gown, I head to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, and take a pain killer (everything aches if I lie awake for long). I also get my heat pad, amongst other things, to help me get warm again.

           I don't think I would survive long in any situation where hypothermia is a risk. As all too soon, the shivers are running through my body, and I know my core temperature is dropping too far, or too fast. It's rather pathetic I know, but that's how I am. I know, don't laugh, all of this extreme reaction to being awake for a while. Despite the fact, I am wearing night clothes, and am covered by a mound of quilts, and blankets. Safe, and dry inside a sturdy house, well protected from the, still roaring wind outside. Well, of course, you expect lots of wind, and rain on the coast, but this is extreme.

           It makes you wonder though, if I am having such problems inside, how the homeless survive on such nights. Can a sheltered corner, with a strip of cardboard under them, really stop the cold from wreaking a high price on their bodies. They have no kettle to make a hot drink, no microwave to heat a hot pad for their hips, as I have. They have little, or no comforts outside, do they. How on earth do they survive, sleeping outside in the UK, at this time of the year? It must be miserable in the extreme. Their nights must be really interminable. No one should have to live like that. 

            I often have a moan, and a complain about the difficulties of my life, but it's really nothing compared to such situations. Whether they choose to take to the streets, or have been forced into it, it's a miserable way to live. I resolve to give to the Salvation Army Christmas appeal, first thing in the morning. At least, if the advertisements are to be believed, they will give some of the homeless, a hot meal, and a bed for the night, should they accept. People like me, take the easy way out, I realise. By merely giving donations,( which I do regularly,) we leave the hard work to others. The actual dealing with the down, and outs, the disreputable. I take my hat off to them, as how many of us could stand to do the same.

            So, back in my really, quite comfortable little home, and the continuing quest of getting warm, and comfortable again. With lights on his time, I make my tea, and raid the jar of mixed nuts, and raisins. Bemoaning the fact, they are too handy, these belong to my son, as does the digestive biscuit I snaffle next. Normally, I don't keep them in the house, but as he is staying here over Christmas, and snacks he, maintains, are what he needs. What a weak willed woman I am I think, eating them just because they are here. Silently, I am delighted to be munching on the large crisp biscuit. Back in bed, drinking tea by the light of my iPad, I begin to warm up again, at last. Noticing also, that it's nearly six o clock. Oh boy, I almost made it through a whole night. Except, I don't know how long I lay awake earlier. It must have been at least an hour, or two.

            OK, I've drunk my tea, body warm, and relaxed again, this blog written, I am getting sleepy. I am going to sleep a little more, just sneak another hour at least.

           Lucky me. I really am fortunate to be so warm, and comfortable. 

           Here's wishing you all the same...