Cabin Fever 🥵

Having heard about cabin fever over the years and never paying much attention, I unfortunately succumbed to this unpleasant malaise last week. It was when we had snow and ice and freezing cold for days!

Being a romantic, I have often thought what fun it would be if I was snowbound! Our freezer is that full that we could live off it for months. We have tinned food of every kind in our cupboards. My husband has his mother’s ‘food stock pile’ gene. Perhaps it was because of the war that my mother in law’s freezer and cupboards were always packed to capacity. So are ours! We are prepared for a holocaust!

I got an amber weather warning on my Met Office app. We were in for some nasty weather. I checked my diary. I deferred appointments and got really excited. Not working I didn’t have to worry about getting up our hill. After years of waking up early to clear the drive and then scrape and grit the hill, my husband and I could relax. It used to really annoy me when no one helped. They just waited for the two early bird numpties to get on with the task so they could reap the benefits a few hours later!

The snow was a day late. I had almost begun to think that it had passed us by. But no, the following morning I awoke to a winter wonderland. It looked beautiful. The temperature wasn’t freezing so the snow had begun to melt. With each drop falling from the roof I felt let down. What about this amber weather warning? Where was the predicted snow and ice?As usual, an over reaction by the Met Office and nothing would happen.

The next morning, however, was very different. The melted snow had frozen and we had had another few centimetres. This was more like it! We had our roaring fire and the car remained in the drive as we weren’t going anywhere! Whatever the condition of the hill, it wasn’t our problem! I share my office at home with the television room. I abused this privelage. During the day I sat and watched a movie, staring at the snow falling outside instead of sitting at my desk writing a blog. What a rebel! No guilt, just pure pleasure!

That was Tuesday. That evening I rebelled again. I had a cheeky glass of red in front of the fire. My weekend treat had come early! I could get used to this! I looked outside. It had started snowing again. Perfect. Tomorrow was going to be just as good!

Wednesday morning dawned. The trees were white, their branches covered in snow. I had set the alarm, as usual, to do my exercises. Later, I walked outside to go to my dance class and almost slipped climbing up the stairs. I went back inside and got my husband hand made, very robust, walking stick. I carefully made my way to a friend’s garage for the class. We usually dance in her driveway but that was out of the question. I cautiously made my way back home, feeling smug that I had done two exercise classes and could now, guilt free, watch a movie while I had breakfast. I wasn’t going out. I didn’t feel like working on my blog. This was a rare occasion and I was going to enjoy it! It had begun to snow again. Great! I’d sit in the TV room with the radiator on full and a blanket over my legs. Snug as a bug in a rug!

My husband suggested a walk later that afternoon. Trying to show some enthusiasm and not wanting to feel too wimpish, I did my Mr. Bibendum impersonation and waddled out to face the elements. Wood Lane was awful! I hung on to my husband’s hand for dear life. I had his stick in the other and still slipped while walking across particularly bad stretches of road. When we got home I made a decision. I wasn’t leaving the house until the snow and ice had melted.

I didn’t. That was when Cabin Fever reared its ugly head. By Thursday afternoon I’d had enough of sitting inside, hardly moving! Alexa became my next go to entertainment. I sang and danced to Gold Radio. Unfortunately that had a lifespan as well. After a couple of hours I had to move on! I started writing a poem. Later I made our evening meal and did some puzzles.

That got me through Thursday. Friday dawned, cold, snowy and icy. My husband cleared the driveway and the car. I managed to get up the stairs in my heavy duty boots and we went to Waitrose. The hill wasn’t too bad. We’d done the round trip and got back home unscathed. It was after lunch that I began to feel very restless. I did some housework. A walk was suggested but I didn’t want to dice with death. My husband went out on his own. I sat down at my desk but couldn’t write anything. I also didn’t feel like watching a movie. I wanted to go outside without fear of falling and get some fresh air. But I couldn’t!

I felt restless, irritable and, bizarrely, lonely! This must be how so many people living on their own feel every day! It was awful. I tried to concentrate on the positives. Our home was warm. The weather would soon change. I wouldn’t starve. My husband would be back from his walk and I’d have someone to talk to. Neither of us are used to me being at home for days on end so he’s probably risking life and limb to have some peace and quiet. I’d begun to show a bad tempered side of my personality which I usually keep well under control.

I turned to my old mate, Google, for advice. Follow a healthy diet. I do. Stay physically active. I do when I can. Spend some time in nature. If only! Find a good work, life balance. I don’t work. Control news consumption. I do, I never watch the news! Try to focus on positives. I am. Have enough sleep. I do. Go easy on yourself. How? By trying to relax and focus on what I have done! But what have I done? Not a lot! Thanks Google! Not particularly helpful.

Saturday morning dawned. Friends had invited us out for early evening drinks. Something to look forward to but with a caveat. I’d have to go outside! That morning I nit-picked over a few things my husband was doing and realised that it would be in my best interest to retire to my office and keep opinions to myself. I watched a romcom movie, made lunch and worked on a poem. We did have a most enjoyable evening with our friends after surviving the walk up and down the hill. I begun to feel a bit perkier.

Sunday was sunny. I could forget that the ice was still treacherous. I stood outside our back door and breathed in the cold air. It felt exhilarating. Having cabin fever made me realise how lucky I am. I put on my wellies and walked around the garden. The amber weather warning had been removed. The snow was slowly beginning to melt. I fed the birds and checked that they had unfrozen water. I would make the most of this last day in isolation. I went inside, sat down at my desk and started writing this blog. 👠