Autumn officially began in The Netherlands last Thursday. Ok maybe not officially but at about 3.30 in the afternoon I looked out the window and noticed that the light had changed. I can always sense the seasons changing here quite clearly. Usually it’s a subtle change of light and difference in temperature. Not that the temperature necessarily goes up or down, the air just feels slightly different. Mainly it’s to do with the light though.
Well that marks the end of the most unsuccessful show of summer in recent history. It’s hard to feel down though because Autumn is wonderful here. There are so many trees about, even in the cities, that before long the streets with be decorated will yellows and reds and browns. I may have reached the grand old age of thirty but I still can’t resist kicking through the leaves on my way home scattering them all over the shop. Also the Dutch love their candles and the long nights are a perfect excuse to set them all alight (the candles not the Dutch). There is something incredibly cosy about wandering about the streets of old Dutch towns and cities and seeing the flickering warm light shining out of the houses.
I decided to celebrate Autumn’s arrival by using a present my occasionally sane sister gave me over a year ago. Basically it was a great big lump of seaweed that you put in your bath so you reemerge looking like Brad Pitt. It may just be seaweed but it was packaged in a fancy colourful paper bag so it probably cost 20 euro. I could never find the right occasion to turn my bathroom into Banna Beach – until this week. It was a change of season warm up bath.
I have to say I was more than sceptical as I lowered myself into the brown smelly water. I was just as sceptical as I lay there holding my nose and trying to relax as I brushed against the slippery weed. Would it have killed them to add a lavender scent and a couple of bubbles I wondered. When I eventually got out I rushed to the mirror to see the results of my marine bath. No Brad Pitt I’m afraid just a goofy looking Conortje with bits of brown slime dotted here and there and some brown oily residue forming a puddle on the floor - very attractive. Test failed I decided to return to the more conventional way of greeting the season change. Lots of candles and perhaps the odd pumpkin and mulled wine.
The problem now is my bathroom smells like a bucketful of barnacles that have been rotting for a week in the belly of a whale. I think I need to get some bathroom air freshener – it certainly won’t be Ocean Fresh scent though that’s for sure.
Brad Pitt is overrated.
Kicking leaves on a walk home sounds so Autumnal, and fun. Does it rain much in NL?
Did you have wine with your slimey bath? Cuz that would have been looking after yourself
Ha Ha- i know this feeling so bad – Paul gave me one of those nasty bath bombs from lush for christmas which contained dried rose petals, by the time they were in the bath though it looked like vomit – not relaxing, not pleasant!!!
Seaweed baths take a bit of getting used to but should you ever have an opportunity, try the ones at Strandhill, Co Sligo. They do rock. And your skin feels sooo soft.
aw, i like you better than brad.
your first graf reminded me of last year when my husband and i were in montreal for a couple of weeks in the fall. we hiked up to the top of mont royal in 80 degree sunshine and lay down in the grass at the top of the hill.
as we lay there, the wind shifted. leaves began spiraling down. the light changed. and he said, “it’s fall.”
he was right; we hiked back down the mountain in the rain.
Honestly, you probably looked better than Brad Pitt (though without the benefit of Smellovision, I can’t say if you smelled better).
The light’s changed here, too. It always makes me sad. We don’t have Dutch people on fire here to cheer us up.
alan – well normally I would say that no it doesn’t but we seem to have had quite a lot recently. No wine on school nights for Conortje I’m afraid
tallulahbloom – urghhhh are you sure you didn’t actually vomit in the bath?
73man – I have a (wonderful) sister in Sligo actually and I’ve been threatening to visit so I may actually pop by for a bath while there
laurie – ahh how sweet
I wonder if Brad and myself were both standing in front of you though if you’d still think the same
sassy – I can lend you some if you like. There are 16 million of them – they’d never miss a couple
Connor – you do write well. I mean it. Not many people can get an interesting piece out of such a seemingly mundane event.
The season has changed here in Norn Iron as well. I can always tell because the air smells different. Maybe now we will have some decent weather.
Funny, Conor.
The best way to get rid of nasty odors is with plain white vinegar. Pour some in the tub and in the drain and let it sit. You may have to repeat it a few times. I was going to make an inappropriate comment about patriarchal feminine hygiene products, but you get the drift.
nick2 – My life is a series of mundane events – it’s a wonder I blog at all
grannymar – oh yes please, we certainly deserve it that’s for sure
medbh – You are a fountain of knowledge! We like inappropriate comments by the way – in fact some of my best friends are inappropriate comments
I love the autumnal colours but I don’t like the autumnal disappearing daylight. I get seasonal affective disorder bigtime. Going to work or coming back from work in the pitch black is totally depressing. I feel like I’m going down the mines or heading for some 24/7 sweatshop. If there’s a God, why isn’t there sunshine 24 hours a day?
Re seaweed bath: I know you like to get well oiled, but that’s a funny way of doing it. Did it actually have any rejuvenating effect? Are you now skipping and hopping through the autumn leaves?
Personally I think Brad Pitt looks like an ape….can’t see his erotic appeal at all. You are miles cuter I think, and no how dare you ask, I have not been drinking!
*chuckle* Just brilliant.
When I was living in London, Ont in Canada I loved the change of season, especially summer into fall. The colors were vibrant, filled you with melancholy yet somehow made you feel happy at the same time (i.e. kicking the leaves around like a child or like doing a little dance in the middle of the street just cuz you can and felt like it). Your own experience in your very own words (charming is an understatement) brought all those memories back. Thank you
If I’m not allowed give up blogging, you’re not allowed. The loss of Conortje to the blogging world would be FAR greater than the loss of me.
Nick2 is right; you’ve got mad writing skills (I don’t know why I’m coming across all “yo homie” there).
Although not mundane…. Routine. Not mundane.
Nick – it’s when the hour goes back in October that it really hits. Light them candles I tell you – brightens up the place a treat re the bath I reckon the old traditional oiling works much better
emmak – congratulations – you’ve won person of the day in Conorland
gaye – ‘melancholy yet somehow made you feel happy at the same time ‘
- yes, that’s really Autumn in a nutshell
alan – giving up blogging is the new black. Fortunately I’ve never been all that fashionable so I’ll stick around another while yet
I’m not giving up blogging, but I gave up commenting about two hours ago. Let’s see how it goes.
Why did I stay away so long? That made me laugh out loud. Poor Conor.
I never saw the appeal in seaweed baths, I spend my time in the sea trying to avoid letting the stuff touch me.
Conor, I did a little pub crawling thing. Came home and am seriously beyomnd drunk. I commented something stupid on gimme’s blog. and now it’s your turn. I should be band from drunk-commenting.
All I wanted to say was, can’t wait for your next spiel.
band = banned
beyomnd = beyond
oh shit I don’t think I got this drunk since .. I dunno Sydney last year.
Primal – not going so well eh I’d say wait for lent
ellie- oh it is soooooo wonderful to have you back – I missed you
gaye – funny thing is I was also rather drunk when I read your comment first hehehe
Alcoholics the lot of you!
Beer is so overrated. It just only makes you feel completely bloated, you go to the toilet after every beer so literally you are spending all that money so you can pee more often than you can say “a pint of whatever please”. I think it could have been worse, they could have charged us everytime we use the toilet. I think I might go back to my vodka loving ways. Conor, what made you drunk?
Lots of farting should mask the smell! Eat lots of beans!
Jedes bönchen macht ein tönchen!
That sounds ghastly! Are you sure she wasn’t playing a practical joke on you?