The seasonal lull

~ beetleypete

Is it really only Wednesday? I spent all day (until a few minutes ago) thinking it was Thursday.

So now the ‘lull’ begins. The presents have been opened, the bins full of wrapping paper and the debris of huge meals. I feel a lot like a slowly deflating balloon, and probably look a lot like one too. The aftermath of that seemingly endless rush toward Christmas, and the two days of hectic celebration. Bones aching, unusually tired, and wondering what to do with yourself once all the good crockery and cutlery has been carefully washed, and tidied away.

This year, we have four days of ‘lull’. Julie is off, and I no longer work. The weather is just awful so no chance of trips out, or bracing seaside walks. Still dark before 4 pm, and little enthusiasm to do much more than flop about, and wonder what we can salvage for dinner tonight. I can’t even imagine the stamina of those who have gone off excitedly to the sales. Maybe it is being older, but I never remember being that lively even when I was young.

I call it the ‘lull’, because there is more to come. New Year’s Eve is looming, heralding the arrival of 2018, which I have said previously somehow seems futuristic to me. I know it’s only one more than 2017, but something about the 8 makes it seem to be ‘the future’. There is no time to really take advantage of this lull though. We have guests arriving on the 31st, and a grandson to babysit that night too. The whole house to clean thoroughly once again, and special meals to prepare. Again.

But for today, on that Wednesday that still feels like Thursday, it’s time to stop.

66 thoughts on “The seasonal lull”

  1. We don’t normally get much of a lull. It’s Mr O’s best friend’s birthday on the 28th so there’s normally some kind of gathering and then Mr O has always been back to work as he was this year. We did use the little bit of downtime we had to binge watch Peaky Blinders. We have become a bit obsessed. I guess it is because we rarely have much time or energy in the evenings to watch much these days.

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    1. Peaky B’s is a good obsession to have. I haven’t missed a single episode! The winter TV dramas are upon us too; check out ‘Spiral’ on BBC 4. It’s available from the beginning (Series 1) on Netflix.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. I do about an hour, half doing cardio on machines and half with weights swapping between them. I can’t say I’m going at it with the intensity of circuit training but I’m hopefully keeping the dogs at bay as it were.

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  6. I get this. I went into a panic on Christmas eve morning, as I had tried for over an hour to call my parents and they weren’t answering. I sent my son to their house and had alarmed my sisters-only to find out it was Sunday, and they were out church! (as usual) It did not feel like a Sunday. I hope 2018 is full o blessings and happiness for you.

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  7. After our little chat on Jude’s post I’ve popped over to say g’day and I think we have similar feelings about this “season of joy”. I must admit I don’t like shopping and it never feels like Christmas to me in this climate as I was born in UK. But I did get that “feeling” for the one day when the family came down full of excitement to open presents, (very low key ones, some bought at the op shop) and enjoy our cold meat, salad followed by pavlova, fruit and icecream. The beach visit was literally washed out by a storm so it was family fun time playing Australian monopoly and pictograph. Now today (whatever day it is) is back to normal. So best wishes for 2018 Pete I’ll pop over every now and again…

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    1. Thanks very much for visiting, and your valued comments on some posts. It is much appreciated.
      Even though I am no fan of bad weather, I cannot imagine Christmas in a country as hot as Australia in December. As you say, it would struggle to feel the same.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  8. We are now in the middle of an Arctic visit. Apparently it will be very cold here for at least another week. I am reading a lot which this time of year seems to demand. Got to keep the brain awake somehow!

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  9. Well I had a nice ‘lull’ day today, mooching about on the net and reading, while poor Phil was at work all day. But for us it’s “the family visits us at Christmas” day tomorrow, and I will be slaving in the kitchen making blini’s and vol-au-vents and sliders and warming up pies and quiches while herds of grandchildren career about the place and the grown ups try unsuccessfully to tame the beasts. 🤪. New Years Eve is always more special to me than Christmas because we can see all the fireworks go off up and down the Tyne from our bedroom window, but this year Phil has to work on NY day so this year will be a damp squib. I’m looking forward to a bit more lulling next week before returning to work and normality on Wednesday!

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    1. Sorry to hear about Phil’s work schedule. For what it’s worth, after 33 years in the emergency services, I do genuinely understand how that impacts on family life.
      Your big day tomorrow is what we had yesterday. Still getting over that, and it’s 10 pm on the following day! At least you’re younger than me! 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. I spin around and think I should clean something. Then I remind myself to make this a “fun” day since my mother is arriving on Friday for a week and I won’t have spare time to indulge. Movies to watch for me. Enjoy your turkey and chips. Don’t forget the wine. Cheers!

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    1. The wine was Valpolicella, Cindy. And the turkey and chips was delicious, thank you. 🙂
      Enjoy that precious time with your Mum. They are soon departed, sadly.
      Best wishes as always, Pete. x

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  11. Damn. and I thought it was Tuesday. These lulls are a real pain in the . . . . (‘cuas all one has to do is work during a lull and everyone knows work is a four-letter word not to be uttered in polite company).
    Warmest regards. Theo

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  12. I had absolutely no idea what day it was. A rare treat for me not to know- or care. I keep looking at the new calendar and feeling I must start to fill it in with all the jobs and appointments I know are coming. For now though, I’m enjoying this lull. All the best. Karen

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  13. Pete, I tend to think of December 26-30 as the “forgotten days,” as it’s hard to remember anything that ever happened on those days (at least for me). Christmas was so uneventful around here that I almost forgot it was the 25th. With the main meal consisting of hamburgers and ice cream, it wasn’t even memorable in the food department. Of course, New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas is BIG, but I’ve only braved the crowds a couple of times in my 22 years here, and now with the threat of terrorism looming over every gathering, I’ll definitely let the festivities slip by without bothering to participate.

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    1. I have never let fear of such incidents put me off going out, but there are a lot less guns in the UK of course… Your Christmas sounds fine to me, David. I would have happily settled for a burger and ice cream. (And perhaps some red wine too…)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. Oh I do love a lull. Spent day on sofa having waved off adult son. It all seemed so much better when he telephoned to say it had taken him over 5 hours to do a 3 hour drive to his second Christmas at his partner’s parents. Well just going to struggle through to kitchen a look for another mince pie.

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    1. I haven’t even opened the mince pies yet, and I have two full boxes! I have enjoyed using my lull to catch up with blogging, and will no doubt also enjoy the cold turkey and chips I am planning to have for dinner tonight!
      Thanks for the comment, and best wishes to you. Pete.

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  15. I hate that when it makes be behind, and gives me yet another day at the office. It’s okay when I think it’s Wednesday but it’s really Thursday. Is there any chance that is happening right now? No… didn’t think so. Happy hump day.

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    1. Not just me then, Mary!
      I’m with you, in wanting ‘back to normal’ as soon as possible. But you are Scottish, so I presume you are anticipating New Year’s Eve very differently to me?
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. I have to confess I don’t really like Hogmanay – possibly a sign of age. All those amateur drinkers going out to celebrate unable to hold their drink. I think Hogmanay, like Christmas, is no longer what it once was – thinking which probably definitely shows I’m becoming a grumpy old woman! I quite like the idea of beginning with a clean slate and hoping things will be better!

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    1. Thanks, John. I am taking that extra day to do absolutely nothing! I took Ollie out of course, in a mixture of hailstones and wet snow, walking in four-inch deep mud. That’s enough for today… 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  20. I have had the same thought. I actually was still the day off today, going back to work tomorrow. But I had also thought it was thursday today. I like New Year’s Eve, but I am not a big fan of New Year’s Day. That’s always one of those days that you don’t quite know what to do….and the entire year looms before you. All I can say is hang in there. Before you know it everything will be back to normal. Take care 😀

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      1. Hmm, well I don’t think you are a grouch at all. Always enjoy reading your posts. And a lot of people get pretty moody/melancholy around this time of year, including me. So, really no worries. As I said, hang in there, it will get better soon 😊

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  22. Soon enough and it will all be over and we will be in 2018..All those resolutions will be in print and be flooding my WP reader…I wonder how many will have fallen by the wayside by the end of Jan?? I am determined to only make 2/3 so I can stick to them or make ones which I know I will be able to stick to …Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year coming your way 🙂

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