Winter…brrrr

My neighbor’s ex-wife (before she was the ex) told me that he had promised her when she moved here that it would never get below 9°C (that’s 48°F). Well, that was a lie. It was 2°C degrees last week and it probably won’t be the last time this year. I know it’s often bitterly cold where some of you live, so I’m sorry if this sounds like whining. I always used to say I hated winter, and these same things do still bother me, though not as much:

1. The most important – it’s too cold
2. Too many clothes – hard to move, hard to drive
3. Always having to put on clothes, take off clothes, which coat is the right weight?
4. Getting sleeves (long, possibly with a sweater) wet washing the dishes
5. Dry skin – exacerbates the excema on my legs
6. Electricity in my hair – this may be the absolute worst!
7. Cold, gray days – just makes everything dismal

And it is correct that if you dress properly you won’t be cold. I’ll give you that, but it doesn’t relieve the other six problems.

I read an article in the expat newspaper recently that said the last thing that crosses most people’s minds when they think of Spain is the idea of being freezing cold. Per the article:

“…daytime winter temperatures in Spain can vary between minus degrees in the central and northern regions near the Pyrenees (I’m pretty near the Pryenees) to around 10°C to 15°C in the south. While this might not sound bad, the problem is often that houses in Spain are not well-equipped for winter and it can sometimes feel far colder inside the house than it does outside…. (no kidding!) One of the main reasons why Spanish homes are so cold is the lack of insulation, as many houses were designed to be kept cool during the hot months with little thought for the colder months. Combine that with the glacial winters some parts of Spain have, and you’re more than likely to keep your scarf and thick wooly socks on indoors. [I DO!!]”

One reader commented: “I was surprised that Spain had a winter at all. I’d never really been cold before moving to Madrid”. Another added: “My Canadian mother has said that the coldest winter she had spent was in Extremadura, Spain…and she lived above the continent on islands in the Artic for several years”.

“Particularly if you’re renting a place, you’ll often find that your house or apartment won’t be equipped with central heating.” TRUE! I have a couple of electric radiators and now an electric blanket that the dogs and I share/fight over.

The author added: “Hahaha I once met an English girl who was actually going back home to England for winter – she said that during winters she effectively freezes less in the UK than in Barcelona.”

Here’s hoping for an early spring!!!! Stay warm out there…