Heat or Cold

Winter is HERE!!! We are right in the middle of it and it has definitely been an odd one this year. Right down to the end of December we had it pretty mild; a green Christmas. It felt more like spring for the longest while. Then in January, we got hammered with snow storms and temperatures dipping below -15c.

The crazy fluctuations in weather leave me yearning for the days of hot, hot and more hot, but then I reminder that even the heat has its disadvantages.

Sometimes it’s the little things, like small changes to your routine, that show you what a big influence the weather can have on your life. It’s fun comparing the advantages or disadvantages of the extreme Caribbean heat, or the intense Canadian winters, on the simple things we do daily.

Got to Melt that Butter

I love butter. It’s better than margarine, and thats a FACT! I love buttered toast, or pancakes, or waffles, but what is room temperature butter in Canada? It’s a brick. Unspreadable and unloveable, unless you nuke it in the microwave.

On the flip side, what is room temperature butter in Tortola? It’s a puddle. It’s a drippy, melted mess, and you have to refrigerate it to keep it from going rancid, bringing us back to that unloveable brick status.

Going Nowhere Fast

Something always seems to come up when you are trying to rush out of the house, especially in the winter. The FOB for our van does not work, so you have to go old school and actually turn the key in the door to open it. This is tricky when it’s so cold that the keyhole freezes. It’s nearly impossible to push the key in, and when you do, it’s impossible to turn. If this isn’t bad enough, the van’s doors usually freeze shut. A carscicle is what I usually find when I run outside on those busy winter mornings; a car fantastically, and completely coated with ice. You know what doesn’t get your kids to school on time…. A carscicle.

Flip it again and we are back in Tortola where when you open the vehicle door, you are blasted by furnace level waves of heat. I imagine that it’s similar to when someone plants a bomb in your car, you open the door, and flames explode out at you. I’m sure it feels that exact same way.

Extra Freezer Space

I left groceries, milk included, out in my car for almost a whole winter day, and by the time I got back to them they were perfectly fine. Actually, I’m lucky they didn’t freeze.

Winter = extra refrigerator space.

The winter world is a giant refrigerator. Our uninsulated garage is a fantastic walk in freezer. Yes, there might be the occasional cat, or possum hanging out, but if you put things high enough that the critters can’t reach them, it works out great.

Flip it to Tortola. I left my pancakes in the microwave and they were rancid by the second day. Rancid! I learned my lesson immediately; everything goes to the refrigerator. Imagine forgetting groceries in the car, Disastrous!! There is never enough refrigerator space.

Gimme the Light

I never appreciated plants and flowers when I was surrounded by them. My Grandmother had the most amazing flower garden and I barely gave it 2 looks. Now, all I want is my garden. I have too many indoor plants and there’s not enough window space with enough light for my babies during the winter. I left a few of my plants out in my front mud room as I was figuring out where the heck to put them, the temperature dropped that night, and they froze to death! I know that sounds dramatic, but it was that bad.

Flip it to Tortola where flowers bloom year round, colour and greenery surround you daily, and plants suffer more from dehydration than anything else. I slap myself for not appreciating it more when I had the chance.

Shower Dilemma

Winter showers are rough. Yes we have hot water but that minute you spend naked in the cold air before getting into the hot water, and the minutes you spend getting dressed after you come out, are enough to swear you off of bathing. I’m telling you.

Tortola heat, 2 baths or more a day. Yes please.

Winter Drifting…

And I don’t mean the snow drifting across the highways. I’ve been watching the Fast and Furious series lately and the drifting scenes are pretty awesome. I wouldn’t willfully try it on any of the hilly mountain roads in Tortola, or most other places for that matter (I don’t want to die), but on slushy winter roads you almost don’t have a choice. Whenever I’m taking that turn and my back end starts sliding on the winter slush, I just channel my inner Dom.

And thats what I got. All I’ve got to say is enjoy the weather wherever you might be. I may not love the winter but I can admit that it’s not all bad. It gives me a reason to slow down and stay in. Similarly, though I was built for the heat, it could be overwhelming at times. Appreciate what you have, and find the positives in the situation.

Stay Warm!