I have a theory. Actually being of a philosophical bent I have many theories, most of them sound, but some possibly bordering on nutjobbery, so let’s keep this narrowed to just the one for now.
My theory is that people identify best with the season in which they were born. I am a Christmas Day baby, so I have always had a thing about summer. I love long lazy summer days by the pool or at the beach. I have summer playlists on my iPod. I adore those books promoted as “light summer reads”. The sound of cicadas is like music to my ears. There is no smell more delicious than the combination of salt water and sunscreen.
And yet, I find that I am growing increasingly fond of winter. Perhaps it is age catching up with me, but I am enjoying cocooning indoors during the colder months. Maybe it is because our winters here in Newcastle are pleasantly mild. When I lived in Germany, I found the late autumn and winter depressing. Snow delighted me at first, especially when I could sit in my bedroom window and watch the flakes fall onto the garden next door, but I soon learned to loathe the stuff. Struggling into boots and parkas is all very well for a week of skiing in that relatively small patch of real winter that we Australians call The Snow. When snow, sleet, frost and ice have to be conquered just to get to the mailbox, then the novelty soon wears off. Daylight is only glimpsed for several hours, and three and five year olds can become like caged beasts without enough room to run. For the record, so can 18 year old Australian au pairs.
But twenty years later, I think I might actually enjoy a bit of time in a real winter. And this faux-winter that we get here? Superb! I spent the weekend on the sidelines of soccer fields and netball courts, basking in the sun while my kids played. Sure it’s not always this nice, but it’s mostly glorious weather we have here. And I still get to indulge in my favourite things about winter:
Tea and toast – sweet, strong milky tea and white toast dripping with butter. Is there anything better?
Tracky daks, cardies and fuzzy socks – My lazy day uniform. Just try being strenuous in those clothes!
Scarves – Oh how I love scarves! They dress up t-shirts and jeans, they keep your neck warm, they add a dash of colour to a utilitarian wardrobe. Plus they’re all I know how to knit.
Snuggly cats – even the most surly of moggies becomes a ball of affectionate warmth in winter. Sure he’s just using me for body heat, but his double-thick winter coat and rumbling purr is pure contentment.
Casseroles and soups – I am the soup queen, mainly because even I can’t go wrong when the instructions are “bung it all in a pot”. If high school science labs got rid of the pipette and the petrie dish and brought back the cauldron, I would have got a much better mark in Chemistry. Just sayin’.
What are your favourite things about winter? Plus – lets test my theory – are you a summer or winter baby? Which season do you like best?
The best thing about winter is that eventually it goes away.
LOL – so you’re a summer fan, I take it? When were you born?
Yep. I’m a summer girl for sure. I was born in March.
I am an autumn baby… But dont really like autumn. I love spring! When the days are warming up, nothing like the warmth of the sun on your skin with a cool breeze in the air which is just enough to cool you down so you can feel the sun warm you back up again. Everything feels fresher and new in spring. Winter has one thing i love though…. Smuggling up in a warm bed with toasty warm toes and the blankets to my nose!
Mmm spring has a wonderful anticipation about it, yes?
My theory may struggle a little with the in-between seasons. I confess I love the first chilly autumn mornings – especially after the sweatfest that is Newcastle in Feb. Muggy.
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I’m with Katrina (not a winter fan. at. all.) I love late spring … and yes I was a spring baby.
Ooh my theory is holding out, somewhat. I need more numbers!
Summer baby, summer lover. In fact, my birthday (Feb 7) is statistically on average the hottest day of the year (at least in Melb), and I’ve certianly had plenty of birthdays of over 35 degrees. Of course, the Black Saturday bushfires also fell on my birthday last year
, but I still adore summer. Best thing about Broome is that it’s summer all year round 
I was born in June, smack bang in the middle of Winter. I LOVE winter. Cold weather, lighting the fire, snuggling, hot chocolates, hot tea and cooking soups. I am a soup cooking fanatic. In fact, I’m going to cook some soup this afternoon.
(I’m a sucker for surveys and opinion polls)
Born September – Spring – but I feel no particular connection to that season.
I love the heat of Summer, the great clear days of Autumn and Spring and in Winter I like being warm inside and having soup.
Maybe that’s the Virgo in me – seeing “perfection” in each of the seasons and being content.
Ooh maybe I can include a “Virgo factor” for you crazy balanced folk.