Monday

December 22nd

London Winter Escape 2025/26

Unforeseen events paved the path to a rather unexpected destination. 
Not exactly the most exotic one, but definitely warm(ish) and quite spacious, as I found myself back in my Mum's basement, 
and it had only been a couple of months.... 
Actually made preparations to get myself back to Italy....
But a return appearance of my Mum's close (not so old but) and rather (currently very annoyingly )current companion, had us all reschedule and rearrange our plans. 
Meaning sadly she was in for another OP and time spent together seemed all of a sudden the biggest gift (well it was X-mas after all), being by her side the most desirable place to be.

Was not really too convinced of this whole "Workaway Concept" anyway... 
...all it boils down to in my opinion/case is that I am going to work/live somewhere, 
because I can not really bare to sit out the icy winter months at home or afford a real holiday
over the two months my beloved home-base turns into a better "freezer-box". 
And the wonderful hosts I'll be staying with can not really afford to pay staff properly.....
So food and accommodation (or better to say whatever is considered as such) has replaced a salary???

Is that model not describing the basics of Slavery, well ok almost...and still voluntary... but that makes it even worse.... not? 
Seems experiences are all the range these days and everybody wants something for nothing. 
 

Not that I myself have not had great "Live in" experiences that made my life a lot easier and uncomplicated. But they paid wages on top. Which made the putting up with "certain challenging conditions", meaning other peoples understanding/approach of/to food and accommodation...(let's not get into the mostly disgusting details of what that actually entails!!!) a lot more manageable.
 
Simply say I did escape London.

Still the winter caught up with me big time. 
Dropping a snow bomb (Well for the Rhineland it appeared bombastic, normally one never gets much more than a bit of dampish drizzle) 
into my altered escape plans/route just after New Year. 
Can't remember the last time I've seen snow at my Mum's.
The village and surrounding areas was not only covered in its distinctive wintery cabbage smell but basically the whole of it plus the rest of Germany (can't say about the smell though) went white.

Bingo slash bollocks, whichever way you want to look at it I guess. 
As I am the type of person who really does not like snow I spent most my time inside, 
longing for the cycle and apple days, but being thankful for the central heating, my Mum keeps on a "constant" (finally agree with somebody on what that actually means) setting. 
Defrosting my vitals slowly but surely.