Apologies to everyone

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to drop everyone a line to say that no, I haven't disappeared off the ends of the earth, and no I haven't fallen out with everyone.
I really struggle at this time of year when it's pitch black when I get up and then pitch black when I come home from work - in effect, I tend to hibernate!
This means I get home from work, make tea and then crash out on the settee watching the box. I'll keep checking up on the Vine when I can, but rest assured, I'm still here, just in hibernation!
Just wait until next Spring when I wake up refreshed and raring to go!
Best wishes to everyone. Dexterdoglancashire

[sewer rat]

Hi DDL
No need to apologise - this time of year gets to a lot of people like that. I don't get bothered with going to work and coming home in the dark, I just get hacked off at not being able to get any time to tidy the garden in preparation for the madness and mayhem that is springtime.

[Lesley Jay]

DDL like Rat said no need to apologise to this crazy bunch of grapes! Enjoy your hibernation and we will see you again in spring! In the meantime I am going to try some of your recipes!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks Lesley! will do my best to keep popping in and out of the Vine - spent yesterday and this morning doing the christmas recipes - lots of lovely pressies for friends and family this christmas methinks! Dexterdog

[Alison]

I'm usuallly OK at this time of year as I'm so busy sorting for Christmas it's January that always gets me down, still loads of darkness and winter to go and nothing to look forward to! Read something the other week about how common it is and that we all need to try to get outside whenever there is any winter sun, something about vitamin D deficiency. Didn't really understand the science bit but I do know that if I get out on those really sunny crisp winter days it certainly makes me feel better.

[Bex]

Hi DDL, the trouble being in spring you will be out in the garden/lottie that much, sowing all your lovely veg, we will probably all disappear off the vine.

[Mrs Dobby]

Glad to hear you are ok DDL, I was beginning to get worried about you (missing your posts tbh), but can sympathise with your feelings about the time of year! I find it hard to get motivated even to go to work, love getting up early when the sun is out in the spring / summer, but this time of year I just want to stay in bed!

I suppose it may be something to do with the fact that we are programmed to rise with the sun and go to bed with it, our ancestors must have lived according to the seasons for millenia before the advent of electric lights and tv that means nowadays we stay up long past sunset!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks everyone - I've actually just had a nap for 2 hours! Not sure if I suffer from SAD (seasonally .....something disorder!) not sad Snadger! I actually have one of those lights that you can use during the day which has daylight tubes in it to make your body think it's getting more daylight than it actually is - it's a bit slow to work this year.....ah well, keep taking the vitamins and using the light methinks. Dexterdog

[multiveg]

Is there any room on your settee for me? I haven't got a tele and I also go into hibernation.

[Alice]

Hello DDL, great to see you there. Hope you're just feeling a bit down in the dumps with the dark days and not actually in a depression. (SAD - seasonal affective disorder is depression associated with the seasons). The good news is after the 23rd Dec the days get lighter by 4 mins a day, and you notice the difference by the time we get to January, so maybe you'll at least get home from work in daylight then. Keep your chin up. Plan for Christmas and then for the spring. Keep us posted.

[Squirrel]

Can empathise and sympathise DDL! Suffer from SAD myself and hibernate until the first warm days of March! I hate having to work and go out and about in the dark and cold! Really battle. Just started a new job so doing ok so far this year. Keep smiling see you in the spring!

[Sue]

Dexterdog
I was wondering where you were, what a bind for you, but do keep looking in, might make you feel better!
I love the winter and the dark mornings and evenings what I hate is getting togged up for the winter, it takes ages to get dressed, all those thermal layers, I think my personal record was 21 garments last February as opposed to just four in the summer. As for that awful moment when you have to retire to the shed for a pee, doesn't bear thinking about.
Sue

[Earthbabe]

Hi DDL, glad to hear that you are relatively ok. Don't worry about things, focus on you. We think Mr E also has SAD as he would hibernate given half a chance. It's not much fun and if you work indoors all those hours getting enough daylight is really tough. Have you tried St. John's Wort? That has been shown to be helpful for SAD. Also grapefruit essential oil, especially if you can get some organic stuff. As Alice says it won't be long before the days start to lengthen again and we will all soon notice the difference.

Take care and catch you soon.

[nick the grief]

We all go thru periods when we don't get to log on (it happened to me earlier on in hte year. But I agree with you about not seeing any daylight - I hate this time of year as I can only get up the lottie at weekends ..... it usually rains at the wekkends round here

[Waffler]

I'm a bit like you DDL in the hibernation stakes; the difference being I'll quite happily prattle on on here and other forums (not gardening ones I hasten to add!), but won't actually go outside and brave the weather to do anything gardening related. Like you say though, it'll all kick in come Spring.