No, it's just that... where's the winter? I mean, two years ago, in 2012, there was no summer, and in 2013-2014 there hasn't been an inch of snow, at least not in Belgium and the Netherlands. I especially bought those expensive Timberland waterproof boots so I could walk in the snow, and make angels in the snow, like we used to do, but... where's the snow? Where's the frost? Yes, it's cold, but more like in autumn, not like in winter. No ice-skating for the kids this year like in earlier years, when here in Leiden the canals were completely frozen and children were outside all day skating on the ice. Two years ago, we even used to have terraces on the ice, where you could enjoy your cup of coffee or tea or a hot chocolate...
A very good friend of mine - you know who you are, A. - once explained something to me about the seasons. I can't remember his theory anymore, but it was a really good one. You had something like autumn and pre-autumn and post-autumn or pre-summer, summer and post-summer. Maybe he can explain it better in a comment, because I regret I forgot the theory, especially because it sounded so good.
It's almost spring! Here in Leiden, the crocuses are already in full bloom. There are some precious places in the parks of Leiden, I should have taken pictures. It looks more or less like this, a picture from 2012. If I have time tomorrow, I'm going to take some pictures and post them here.
In any case, I want to make proper use of this soft climate. I want to pick up running again. The start-to-run method by Evy Gruyaerts is just the best! It will help me to become fit again, because I still have plans to pick up karate. In April there's the possibility to try it out, so I'm looking forward to it. But first, become fit again. I hope the weather stays as it was today, because - I don't know how it is on the other side of the world - hello there Australia, hello there Chile, hello there Siberia! - but today was one of those days on which you have to find an excuse to be outside. I found my excuse, oh boy I did! So I went outside, yes I did! And I hope tomorrow will be as awesome as today, I hope the Lord grants us another beautiful pre-spring day. Then I'll go and make those pictures I promised you before.
Tomorrow is also a special day in another sense. Not really for me, because I'm not a Catholic anymore, but it's Ash Wednesday. What is important, though, is that we're only 40 days away from Easter, and once I received a gift book from a friend of mine with the following title: "40 days to discovering the real you. Learning to live authentically. Companion to the 40 day soul fast." I hope I'll be able to fill in the tasks every day and to read the bible scripture every day. It would be a great achievement.
As for now, I'm almost two weeks at home, recovering from a 15 weeks' stay at the closed ward of a psychiatric hospital. I'm writing my book (in Dutch) and I only now notice I'm already at 215 pages, so it's time to finish the story. It will have an open ending, because suppose the book sells well, I will write a sequel. Promised. I can already give away a few more things. The title will be: "Ik, Timothy. Zin en waanzin." (I, Timothy. Sense and frenzy). I will write as D.P. Mahieu, thereby using my true name. A very good friend of mine - the same from the weather theory - has been building and rebuilding my name into anagrams and pseudonyms, but eventually I decided to be as authentic as possible. Sorry for all the unnecessary work, but we had a great time and a good laugh at what you produced, A.! Allow me to reproduce a few suggestions A. made:
- Phileia Ebubumadea
- Dilma Hebbe Uupaei
- Dorina Priscilla Manta
- Dunya Perez Mendez
Well, we had a great time :) But let's keep things simple: D.P. Mahieu. I know it's a risk to give away my surname on my blog, but luckily I'm not the only Mahieu on planet Earth. Our family is quite big, in fact, so that's great.
But let me turn back to my being and my health. I'm feeling quite well. I have Intensive Home Treatment once or sometimes even twice a day, and it works. Only last Saturday I was in a crisis again. Luckily I could stay as calm as possible (what do you want, with 90 milligrams of Tranxene in your blood?!) and everything turned out well. I was on the other closed ward, and I was afraid they were going to admit me to the closed ward again, but they didn't notice any acting-out behaviour, which is what saved me. I constantly received images of me destroying the closed door. If I'd done that, I'd certainly not be writing from this place, called home, right now. Luckily, the Lord took care of it, and on Sunday I was my good old self again. I even got a surprise. A guy from the closed ward could come to church! He had received the freedom to come. I was so happy, not only for him, but it was also good to see him back!
So people, you got yourself a little update. Off to my book now! Love you all!
Haha! That wasn't really a theory about the seasons. Just a formalised description of my experience with the seasons since they went off their rockers ten years ago. I connot make any sense of them, nor can anyone, I fear.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's good to see you back on track, dear!
Thanks for your comment, my friend! I did like the theory though, it made sense ;)
ReplyDeleteI did not realize you were already at the end of your book! As I'm writing, I'm making character concepts of Timothy and the outfits. It is a lot of fun. I hope they'll be to your liking :D And it's so good to hear you are back home. Though I keep missing your calls, argh!
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