Hints for chasing away the cold, dark and gloom?

[dolorous_ett]

I keep meaning to post, but even though the huge crisis I dreaded is past, I'm still exhausted, and as a result I alternate between busy, exhausted and embarrasingly self-pitying at the moment. So I thought, rather than inflict this horrid state of mind on my poor friends-list, I should try and make something nice of it. 

So - any suggestions on how to keep winter gloom at bay, or to make winter gloom fun? Any hints on how to chase away exhaustion? Any cheering links to humorous things? Or pleasant but serious things? Warming recipes? Anything considered!

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

I always find mulled wine warming and cheering. Preferably drunk by candlelight.

[aella_irene]

Oranges. Also, steamed leeks with butter, macaroni cheese, girdle cakes with butter, cheese on toast with worcestershire sauce, and baked potatoes. (Not, I hasten to add, all at the same time). I also find watching Time Team in front of a roaring fire rather nice (though it isn't on at the moment, I think). And drinking hot drinks (chocolate, tea, etc)

[aerama.livejournal.com]

Another be-ruffled feathery friend of an icon! I sense a trend. Unless all birds of a feather are...grumbly together.

I keep thinking of apple cider warmed on the stove, with cinnamon, and making bread. These do involve self-effort unless you can prevail on a kind soul to do it for you.

Go to www.facade.com and do a fun Tarot reading or biochemistry or runes or whatever they have there now.

Curl up with "The Horse Goddess" by Morgan Llewellyn because that's what I'm re-reading right now.

Alternately you could work on your moods affecting physical reality, like the lights going out before.
Or, dare I say, The Stag Beetle fic, with a dash of Professor Llewellyn.
And see? Two Llewellyns in one comment equal a cosmic resolution. Or is that a comic resolution...

There are two paths to enlightenment.

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

The first involves real ale or cider, and listening to ISIHAC again on the Beeb's website.

The second involves baroque music and a bottle or two of port.

You pays your money an' you takes your choice.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Mulled wine? I hadn't thought off that - but I'm definitely in the moood for spices...

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of Time Team in front of a roaring fire too - though that would sadly involve buying a TV and building a fireplace into my flat! Perhaps Christmas with my parents...

And oranges - definitely! Not to mention tea!

Thanks!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

You like it? I got it off a recent icon post in owlihotornot, which is where people go to post nice pictures of owls...

I went to facade.com, and was mildly horrified by the dreadful fate the Tarot cards told me awaited me if I started a PhD... but at least I now know my biorythms really are rock bottom in everything - which, if I'm not much mistaken, means things will look up, given a day or two.

D'you know, there was another power cut recently? I don't flatter myself that I really affected the fabric of reality, but a girl can dream, no?

The Adventure of the Two Llewellyns does sound a bit Holmes-y, doesn't it? WHo knows? Though what I'd really like is the time to get Chapter 13 (possibly plus separate epilogue) out of the way.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Another vote for alcohol. There's a reason it's been the drug of choice for thousands of years. I agree about the oranges, too. When you need to boost your blood sugar, they are your friends.

If the weather is nice at the weekend (only three days to go) promise yourself a walk in some attractive countryside, poss. followed by lunch at a pub, or afternoon tea.

Only a few weeks left until the end of term.

A video and a very easy supper.

Consider Christmas decorations.

Watch this. NB. technically it is "worksafe" in that it contains nothing that yr average university would object to. But generally full-frontal male nudity is best watched at home.

[Glad the immediate crisis it past! Are you going to be in God's own county over Christmas/the new year at all?]

Re: There are two paths to enlightenment.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Real ale is always good news, at any time.

But I know very little about cider - can you recommend any particular type? I'm sorry to say that, being the age I am and from the place I am, I tend to associate cider with drunken teenagers - but I gather this is very unfair?

[themolesmother.livejournal.com]

I, too, enjoy mulled wine as a winter pick me up, preferrably following a nice brisk walk on a cold but sunny day.

Alternatively, a glass of chilled white drunk in a nice hot bath with plenty of gorgeous smelling bubbles can do the trick.

A third is home made crumpets with plenty of butter and blackcurrent jam for breakfast.

MM

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Just watched your "this" - and am now grinning like a lunatic - it really is a classic. I'll be humming that tune all evening now, but it's a price worth paying.

Alcohol would probably just send me to sleep, but oranges for definite. I love this time of year - they actually taste fresh!

[And yes, I'll be back over Christmas, though we'll be having the new year here I think. Do let me know if you fancy meeting up!]

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Bubble bath... now there's a thought... I spent two years in a bathless flat (don't worry, I didn't smell, I had a shower!) and I tend to forget how lovely a bath can be.

And crumpets! I'd forgotten all about crumpets! I'll have to get some in - Q has probably never had a crumpet!

[perosha.livejournal.com]

Eat borscht. Best comfort food ever. ♥ There's a pretty good English recipe here, which you can probably cut down to serve two (though I'd just make it all and eat it for days, *LOL*.)

Owl me.

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

Most real cider is locally produced; email me. (I've clean forgotten where you are these days, and need to know if I'm to advert you to a good local cider.)

[st-aurafina.livejournal.com]

Curry! Curry will warm the cockles of your heart. (In summer, I also recommend curry to cool you down.)

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Anything involving chilli sauce. I had stir fry with tofu, prawns, various veggies, and chilli sauce before I left for Stratford today and it was very nice.

And definitely alcohol of some variety. Port is very good. I should buy some port...

Or possibly hot chocolate spiked with something (Cointreau/Grand Marnier or Chambord are my usual choices).

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I'll echo previous calls for alcohol.

My recipe for beating the blues: raspberry crumble or almond cheesecake with a glass or two of Essensia (a Muscat dessert wine; goes best with chocolate of any wine known to man woman).

[aerama.livejournal.com]

There is an Owl glam site?? I can't believe it. I don't believe it. But I DO believe it and will tally ho henceforth. This world must love you when it gives you owls.
Oh lord! When I get a dreadful Tarot reading, I just do another one until I get an answer more palatable.
...what? Playing with fate, you say? Pshaw!

Huh. Another power outtage. And you say you had nothing to do with it. Hmm.

The Two Llewellyns has to happen at some point. Especially since I spelled Morgan's wrong. *d'oh* And me with the book right there, too. Well, I'd been spelling it wrong in my head all these years...

Chapter 13 yes!

[aerama.livejournal.com]

Borscht!!! Yes.

[prelud.livejournal.com]

I`ll say mulled wine, too, even though books say alcohol is actually a depressant. But mulled wine cheers me up, too.
Also, if you are in mood for spices, Chinese hot and sour soup. It has very recuperating effect on me. Chili stew is good too.
Exercise.
Chocolate - high quality dark chocolate is the best (I love Lindt).
Citrusy scents - in a perfume or aromalamp. I pour citrusy colognes on myself these days (Guerlain Eau Imperiale, 4711, Verveine by Yves Rocher.) Or try lavender or other essential oils that work for you in an aromalamp.
Read some J.K.Jerome - Three Men in a Boat.
Go through your music archive and find something cheering. Singing is good, too (you can sing "Nine naked men" ;)).
And know that you`re not alone feeling the winter gloom *hugs*

[prelud.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the earbug (I`ll probably hear that song in my dreams) - and for giggles, too.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It's an unforgettable tune. Occasionally I like to say that of course the piece is not simply comedy, but a discourse on the nature of the suburban community.

I feel that I had better not comment re. "rate my owl", though the new icon is cute.

[It would be very nice to meet up - I'll drop you a line by email nearer the time]

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

all i can think of is hot chocolate. adn put abit of baley's in it, perhaps that helps. i'm hunting dow na truckload of youtube videos. jsut loo kfor monty python, or laurel and hardy. wh ydon't yo ureread atrilogy, ;preferrabl yoen consistign of three thick books?

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Not really owl glam - but if you like looking at pictures of owls it has plenty of those. Some are rather tacky ornaments rather than real owls, but you can't have everything. And the icon post makes it worthwhile, I think.

As to the Tarot, I suppose I should be pleased that it's capable of giving negative results - at least it's trying not to be biased. Will not ask it such a serious question, though, if I ever go back...

Re: Owl me.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

You are very kind - I'll email you tomorrow. Thank you!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I feel that I had better not comment re. "rate my owl", though the new icon is cute.

So that's where the name came from! I really am too naive to be allowed on the Internet unescorted!

Don't worry - there's no owl-rating involved, just people posting pictures of them. There are also pictures of ornaments (tacky) and tattoos (wierd), but there's good stuff there too.

[looking forward to it!]

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

That looks fantastic - and yummy - I'm a sucker for warming foods and sour cream.

Thank you!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Curry sounds great as well - and let me recommend curry right back to you to drive all that nasty heat away where you are!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm... chilli... and chocolate! Perhaps even in combination? (I actually had a chilli-flavoured chocolate and it was rather nice).

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Raspberry crumble sounds lovely - or cheesecake, but probably some other kind - I can't abide nuts in sweet food. And dessert wine... mmm...

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

even though books say alcohol is actually a depressant

Which is why I'm avoiding it until I have a chance to drink and relax - at the moment I think it would be counter-productive, more's the pity, as it is plainly everybody's panacea of choice!

Agree with you completely about chilli of all types - and will try a few drops of lavender by my pillow tonight - I've found it really can help with relaxed sleep.

Thank you!

*hugs back*

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Three thick books? Now there's an idea - I can think of several - and a mug of steaming chocolate with Bailey's can only improve them...

Thanks!

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

I had no idea they even made chilli-flavoured chocolate. I don't know how I feel about that...

See icon!!!

[dolabellae.livejournal.com]

Although if you're avoiding alcohol at the moment, not so helpful. I have been eating so much carbohydrate recently, it's obviously the time of year for it, so definitely second recommendations for girdle cakes and crumpets and cheese on toast (try welsh rarebit/rabbit! if only because the name is great!) - right, will stop before I make myself hungry again...

For an way to waste a few hours enjoyably and educationally, you could have a look at the Guardian archive, if you haven't already. They've just unveiled the website, with scans of every page of every paper from 1821-1975, and you can get a free 24 hr introductory pass (then it's £3.95, till the end of November when it goes up again). You can search precisely - I looked for such random terms as Peter Wimsey, Camille Desmoulins, and the town of my birth - but once you find your article you can see it as part of the page and get led off on all sorts of sidetracks...

Can't remember how to do hyperlinks, but here you go!

http://archive.guardian.co.uk/Default/Skins/DigitalArchive/Client.asp?Skin=DigitalArchive&enter=true&AW=1195681163182&AppName=2

Re: See icon!!!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Of course - sloe gin!

The Guardian looks lovely - I'll have a proper trawl through it when I have a bit more time (weekend? Here's hoping, anyway).

Thanks!