The Interna(list)—a mini-series exploring the internal intricacies of our inner-being through the practice of writing lists. Read last months list The things we hold dearest.
While the rest of the world is exuding summer feels, Aussies are shivering through the last few weeks of winter. We’re a pretty fragile bunch, complaining of the slightest drop in temperature. Queenslanders (such as myself) are the worst. Our winter days are like beautiful English summers, hovering around 17-25 degrees, with the sun streaming down through the gumtrees. We still wear shorts and thongs (the shoe kind), swim at the beach, and have the fan on a night. And yet we’re always grumbling jeez it’s cold!
Despite our mild form of winter, I experienced seasonal depression as a teenager. It’s been over ten years since that time of my life, and still I feel unceasing whenever the calendar ticks over to June and a chill is felt in the air. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about ways to redeem this season, and strategies to replace the dread with joy.
Here are seven ways in which I warm my heart and toes during winter. They are incredibly simple (some might say boring), but they are what I look forward to every year.
Although I’ve heard that hot drinks are meant to help cool you down (highly questionable), I wouldn’t dream of ordering a hot coffee during summer. I’ll take an ice-latte, ice-chai, ice-chocolate, ice cold smoothie….literally anything with ice in it. Therefore it’s a novelty to walk up to the hipster behind the counter, look them straight in the eye and order a hot dirty-chai, then tap my card and feel the $6 electronically slip through my fingers into the cafes iPad. I must admit it is quite heavenly to warm my hands and burn the tip of my tongue with said dirty-chai. I make the most of it over these three wintery months, much to the detriment of my bank account.
I would light my beeswax candles all year round if it wasn’t essential to have the ceiling fan on highball from September to May. Therefore winter ends up being the perfect (only) time to fill my home with gorgeous golden flames and the wafting scent of honey. I’ve come to realise rituals and smells ground us in different seasons. Lighting my candles has become my favourite activity as the sun sets and the temperature starts to drop. I make sure I appreciate every evening before spring arrives and the fans resume their tornado-style dance.
Same as the candles, there’s something dreamy about lighting a fire on a cold night. This year I purchased a small fire pit to use in the backyard. I love the smell of firewood. I even grabbed some cherry wood from the local butcher. My husband and I spent the first night leaning over the fire trying to get a whiff of cherry, but probably ended up with carbon dioxide poisoning instead. All in all, a great way to spend an evening.
Wearing fluffy socks is only for those hard-core winter mornings and nights. They’re only released from their prison (aka the back of the undie drawer) for a week or two before getting shoved back in (hopefully washed) until next year.
For some reason, winter has the most stunning pink and orange sunsets. I’m not sure what the science is behind it, but we don’t get the same effects in the warmer months. Even though the sun sets around 5pm, it’s made less glooming by the fact that the darkening sky looks like a exquisite watercolour painting.
I’m not a fan of soup, but this winter my mother-in-law gave us a bowl of minestrone and I was hooked. The very thought of tomato juice, with pasta and vegetables repulses me, but my oh my it is delicious! I’ve even started making it myself. Slowly sautéing the carrots, celery and onion. Adding bacon, small cubes of sweet potato, and beans. Pouring in a can of diced tomatoes and high quality
home-madestore-bought chicken stock. I’m telling you…don’t knock it till you try it.Most Aussies still frequent the beach throughout winter. Most of us sit on the shore trying to soak up any remnants of heat, while the surfers and old men in buggy-smugglers brave the waves. One of my all time favourite memories is falling asleep in the sand dunes on a wintry day, with my jumper rolled under my head, the midday sun warming my back, and the sound of breakers crashing. Absolute bliss.
I’m sure this list seems comedic to the rest of the world who experience true frostbitten winters. I know the rest of the world is now heading into cosy autumn, so let me know what you’re looking forward to in the coming cooler months.
As always, thank you for reading.
Chloe
This is entertaining. From a South Aussie perspective, Queensland is often thought of as a place to escape to during winter, to get away from the cold. It's all relative, for sure. 🧡
This was a funny read :D I wouldn’t even call that winter, as I connect winter with freezing temperatures. It’s probably warmer for you in winter than our summer this year in germany.
Thanks for sharing :)