I remember, as a child, often hearing the “old folks” say that any climatic upheaval (heatwave, bitter cold, storm) – even a mild one – was surely caused by the Russian Sputniks orbiting above us. Today, excessive greenhouse gas emissions are the main factor blamed for everything that happens to us.
Strange, this human habit of always needing to find someone to blame, or even a culprit, to explain phenomena that unsettle us. It’s true that accusing is, in the end, reassuring. Identifying a presumed culprit is, at the same time, clearing oneself. It’s not me, it’s…
Anyway! All this takes us away from the question raised earlier: “What to do when it’s bitterly cold?”
Let’s be clear, this isn’t about deciding how to spend our Sunday afternoon, whether to visit the great-aunt-on-mum’s-side-who-lives-alone-in-her-house or finally learn to play WhatchamacallitGame. No, it’s really about finding a way to better cope, mentally or physically, with winter’s icy bite.
1. Some will advocate the eco-citizen stance (basic and sensible).
Knowing that electricity consumption rises sharply when outdoor temperatures drop very low, knowing that meeting this heavy demand requires activating supplementary power generation sources that emit a lot of CO2, and knowing that we need to avoid dramatic power cuts, it’s therefore necessary to act individually to moderate our consumption by applying simple measures:
– heat only the rooms that need it
– likewise, light only the spaces that need it
– avoid overheating
– avoid running household appliances during peak hours (5pm-8pm)
– keep shutters closed at night and when away
Good. Very good.
2. Others will apply all these measures simply by leaving home…and flying off to milder latitudes!
Immediate, guaranteed benefits. No need to heat or light an empty house, so no energy consumption at all. On the other hand, full opportunity to enjoy winter sunshine captured outside France to revive chilled muscles, tan a pale complexion, soak up light (essential, that—light therapy), take hot baths (important, that—thermal treatments), and as a result feel good (fundamental, that—staying positive), which makes the people around us happier…and happiness is priceless!
Of course, winter sunshine this beneficial isn’t found just anywhere.
So, just for you, and to kick off your intensive treatment programme, here is a proven selection:
– Vamizi, Mozambique: Vamizi Island Lodge
– Lamu, Kenya: Kiwayu Safari Village
– Los Roques, Venezuela: Posada Caracol
– Concept Island, Madagascar: Tsara Banjina
– Tofo, Mozambique: Bahia Sonambula
– Bahia, Brazil: Itacare Eco Resort
– Denis Island, Seychelles: Denis Island Lodge
– Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: Esperanza Resort
– Pemba Island, Tanzania: Fundu Lagoon
