Change of Scenery

It has been a grim winter here in Holland.  Temperature-wise the season was mild, but it rained and rained and then rained some more.  I'm pretty sure that until two weeks ago, I hadn't really seen the sun since November.  Most people think of England as cold and dreary.  I'm here to tell you that that same gloomy weather moves right across the Channel and then stops right over my neighborhood.

B was back in Australia a week ago for a conference.  He also got to stop in on his family in Brisbane.  Brisibane's climate is a bit like Southern California.  Summer may be coming to a close down under, but he did get to go to the beach and run around with his shirt off.  He got the vitamin D boost that I know I need.

I never thought about seasonal affective disorder, but I may have it.  I moved here in November of 2005, so I didn't have to suffer through the entire length of the season last year.  It was also a bit of a novelty.  "Hey look at that, it's 3:30 in the afternoon and the sun has already gone down." 

I feel no such spirit about it this year, and I might be going a little crazy.  I think Nigel Beagle is in a funk too.  The sun peaked through the clouds for a few hours yesterday morning, and I caught him basking in it.  He was literally sitting in a patch of sun with his eyes closed slightly rocking from side to side.  After only just a few minutes of this he seemed like a whole new dog. 

My yoga teacher from Virginia takes a group down to Costa Rica for a retreat each year.  Back in January I knew I was going to be losing my mind right about now, so I signed up to go.  I leave in exactly one week.

 

Aside from a yoga class in the morning and another in the afternoon, there are no other scheduled activities.  I've never been on a retreat of any kind, and I'm not even sure if I'll be able to relax into anything resembling stillness.  But it has been a big 18 months for me and I need to recharge.

This is also a great opportunity to knit and knit and maybe even finish something.  I've got less than a week to plan my projects.  They need to be easy enough that if I get stuck I won't need to log onto the Internet for answers especially if I'm on the plane.  On the other hand, I don't want the patterns to be totally brainless.  I wonder how quickly I can order the Cabled V-neck pattern I've been lusting after or this sock yarn from the UK.

What do you knit on a trip?

Comments

[Add Knitter]

The retreat to Costa Rica sound like just what the doctor ordered for you...glad you also like Masculin/Feminin. Yes, the hair is amazing!

[Jen]

I just had to comment - I absolutely LOVE your dog's name: Nigel Beagle! How perfect!

[elan]

On a trip I always take a sock for the plane, the needles are small, bamboo & don't bother anyone, take an extra ball of sock yarn just in case you finish & I always try to but souvenir yarn where ever I am.

[Jen]

Elan, yeah I was thinking I'd take some socks along, even though I've never knit further than the top part. I'm planning on trying to teach myself during the week, so I know what to do to turn the heal and such. Wish me luck!