Hello my friends and I hope you all had a great Christmas.
I have published very little on the blog in December. It is always a hard month for me and my mood has been, as we say here, ‘up and down like a bride’s nightie’. My enthusiasm has been on and off like a lunchtime stripper with fifteen pubs to do.
I have done my best to keep in touch with a few of you by email (and those chats have been very welcome ) and have posted on Instagram. My doctor was expecting to start to take me off Citalopram this month but my fatigue was causing great concern culminating in a full suite of blood tests. The good news is that everything they tested ( thyroid, prostate, liver function, cholesterol and numerous others) came back either normal or excellent. Suspicions about my vitamin B12 were unfounded as that was normal too. Vitamin D being low was the only flagged result so am now on supplements. Amusingly I was so tired taking them on the second day that I fumbled opening the bottle and dropped the whole thing, open, into the sink full of water and had to go buy another pack….
So basically I am physically great. I just feel half dead. I settled down this evening to write one email and this blog post and so far it has taken 3 hours. I was hoping to work on photos, my nascent shop and other projects too but bed beckons. Maybe tomorrow.
The holidays have been busy until today but I have managed to get some drawing done. This may be in another post soon but you can see it on my Instagram if you are curious.
Anyway. One of the joys of growing the winter growing bulbs and other plants from parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate is that even in the depths of winter there are flowers in the greenhouse. All those below were in flower on Christmas day.
I hope you get your energy back quick. Sucks to have to go buy more when you just got them!
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It does! And thank you Julie๐
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My energy level is low too. Must be the lack of sunshine. This must be even harder for you because of the UK weather. Sending huge hugs your way Darren. Your flower photos are like beautiful rays of sun. Thanks!
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Thank you๐. I know you also have a lot to deal with too and it is exhausting. Soon the spring will arrive. And then you will be getting a visitor!๐๐
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I am looking forward to that visit… And spring, too. ๐
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May this new year bring you peace of mind and a healthier mind ๐
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Thank you my friend๐
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Thank you for your beautiful photos (and drawings in previous posts; I love your Instagram feed too). It is lovely to have a complete contrast to the posts of gingerbread and lattes topped with marshmallows!
It sounds like you have done pretty well. Christmas is draining at a time we just do need to hibernate. Just doing a little of what makes you feel grounded is enough.
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Thank you Ali๐. What a lovely comment. I am starting with a cold, which is good news because I wonder if my lack of energy might be partially explained by my fighting it off. And today has been a relaxing drawing day๐.
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I hope the Vitamin D will give you the boost you need. Very happy to hear that all your other test came out good. Think about May, my friend. I know that will bring a smile to your face. Your humor brings me great joy. These are gorgeous pictures and makes me dream about warmer weather. Your IG is wonderful!!
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Thank you so much Lisa๐๐. Believe me – May is the thing about 2019 I am most looking forward to!๐. Will be so nice to meet you at last!
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I couldn’t agree more! I am so looking forward to it ๐๐
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I’m so sorry to hear that you are feeling so down. I’ve been trying to fight my way out of a dark space, too. Maybe if we join forces…?
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Good plan! But I have a cold now as well so you might catch it!
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Bill does, too. We’ll just blame him. ๐
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We were blaming our niece. She is the typhoid Mary of cold viruses.
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And now I’m getting a tickly throat…you’ll just have to imagine me looking sideways at Bill with cutting eyes.
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A party in Montreal will make everyone feel better ๐๐๐
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I heartily agree!!! ๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐ค
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Can’t wait to meet you in person!! ๐๐๐๐๐
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And I feel the same way!!! ๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐ค
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Your beautiful flowers always brighten my day, Darren! The effort of growing these in winter is well worth it! Thank you! ๐
But I’m so sorry to hear you’re not feeling too well even though physically all seems to be in perfect order. I completely get that it took you 3 hours to do all this, I’m currently moving around at a snail’s pace too. Damn depressions and all that, right? Know that you’re not alone and that we all understand you. Blog only if you really want to, it can be quite exhausting and you don’t want to add more exhaustion than you’re already feeling. Take good care, my friend and enjoy those flowers! ๐
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Thank you for this lovely comment my friend.
One of the cruel things about depression is the proven proven susceptibility of creative individuals. Imagine the art and the inventions that never get made because of it.
Have a big hug Sarah. Lovely to have you back.๐
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Yes, that’s a true and very sad fact. Better not to dwell on this thought though or I’ll end up being depressed just because of it! ๐
Big hug back to you! It’s certainly good to be back! ๐๐
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They are so pretty!!
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Thank you๐
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