Netherlands in Winter Mood

With the Netherlands in a winter mood due to a few days of light frost, this theme was to be expected. Lol ... And the theme: "Cold", which immediately makes you think of shivers, frozen toes, skating fun, snow fun, winter, etc. But in recent years, there has also been a discussion about whether you are allowed to turn up your thermostat at home to a degree because the absurdly increased prices for gas make winter even more unpleasant if possible. In recent years, "cold" has taken on a whole new dimension for many. The costs for heating rose with the Russian invasion of Ukraine just as dramatically as the number of seasons of an average Netflix series. And with that, many people reached a point where they either had to accept the cold or pay dramatically high costs to sit warmer. And if neither is an option, then that mountain of extra blankets on the couch suddenly comes in handy.

No gas here at home, but a monthly trip to Belgium. Fuel oil keeps things going, and that is much more affordable in Belgium than in the Netherlands. A trip like that saves about 200 euros per month. Then we immediately fill the car's tank with petrol and then we have saved 250 euros. Fortunately, it is possible to drive from here to Belgium, but on the other hand, it is of course absurd that it is necessary.

Snow and Ice Fun

Enough about that, because cold does not always have to be miserable. Then I think of snow and ice fun! A really nice layer of snow, not such a thin wet white layer that looks more like wet sugar. And then I think back to my youth when winter was still really wintery. In those days I lived for snow days. It could not be cold enough, as soon as it had frozen solid for a few days the meadows were flooded and the ice rink opened. The whole village came out and everyone was on their skates. If it continued to freeze, and that was what we all hoped for, you could soon skate on the frozen ditches, and a little later the skating area was expanded with ponds and natural water. And if we were really lucky, an Eleven Cities Tour was held. No, I have never skated an Eleven Cities Tour myself, but I have certainly covered quite a few kilometers on skates. It has become real nostalgia by now, the last Eleven Cities Tour was already 28 years ago.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

In the later years, without skating fun, I mainly enjoyed a walk on the days when there was a nice layer of snow. And then it was a regular occurrence for me to go out with the dogs, camera at the ready, and a heart full of childlike joy. My white German Shepherd, Rowan, suddenly changed into a not-so-white dog in those days. Where you normally looked at his coat as white, in the snow that white coat was no longer so white. But he was still a perfect match for the environment. The only downside was of course that by the end of such a snow walk he wasn't even white/yellow anymore, but just a plain dog that reminded me of a mud monster.

Snow Kings and Snowstorms

And when I think that Rowan was a snow king, I also think back to my little enthusiastic Myla Mouse. She wasn't a snow queen, she was the snowstorm itself. Running and jumping through the snow, and not to forget, working me upside down. To name just a few parts of her favorite winter sports. And all with the big smile on her snout that was her own. I can't count the times that I tripped on the slippery paths, a walk ending again with a cold bottom and a camera that miraculously remained intact. Myla had that special talent to find exactly those frozen puddles that I wanted to avoid in a big arc, but because of her I often had to balance on, and sometimes even slipped.

The Joy and Love Kept me Warm

And yet, during all those moments I was never really cold! Maybe the magic of the snow kept me warm, the exercise with the dogs. And if that wasn't enough ... the pure joy of those moments with the dogs, the warm love in my heart for my dogs, that certainly kept me warm. Now down to earth for a moment! It will also be true that when you are just busy outside and enjoying what you are doing, you don't have time to think about the temperature at all.

Sometimes I miss those times. Not only the snow, but also the chaos, the fun, and the feeling that you forget everything for a moment in a white winter wonderland. Nowadays we hardly get any snow, as I said, the Elfstedentocht was last held 28 years ago, and winters skating on natural ice are becoming rare. The world is becoming less and less white, and less and less of a wonderland.

No Cold, Just Warm Memories and a Heater

So to come back to the theme of "Cold", when I look at the photo of Rowan in the snow, I don't think of cold. I think of the warmth of memories, the sound of dogs playing, and the taste of hot chocolate when you finally come back inside. Without the cold, there is no warmth. Without warmth, there is no cold. Cold is an awful feeling, I don't like it. Give me warmth, and warmth is in the moments you create, even when your toes freeze, (okay, then a heater does wonders too).