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Debbie Leigh: Caught cold by winter
IT'S become woefully obvious lately that we're just not prepared for arctic conditions in this country.
Never mind the grit shortage, and far more importantly, the sledge shortage; not to mention the bulk bread-buying, supermarket shelf-clearing panic.
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I'm talking about the fact that we, as a nation, just don't have the appropriate wardrobe for devastatingly cold conditions.
Everywhere you look, there are heinous fashion crimes being committed.
Those little dogs dressed in jumpers to beat the chill look more stylish than most commuters.
Ok, there's been a smattering of stylish women on the streets of Leeds, looking like they've just stepped off the set of Dr Zhivago.
And a few seem to end up with a lovely doll-like rosy glow to their cheeks and make woolly hats glamorous.
So why is it I have chapped lips, hands like a 93-year-old (as Mr N so kindly pointed out) and look unfortunately Smurf-like in any kind of headgear?
At least I'm not alone.
Yep, when it comes to looking cool, most of us have been left out in the cold.
It used to be that summer was the toughest season, that mission (almost) impossible of making sure you were toned and tanned before it was time to flash the flesh.
Winters were easy, a lush coat, knee-high boots and a long, thick scarf and you were good to go.
At least that's how it was before the British winter turned into a state of emergency.
The trouble is, unless you're a diehard fashionista, in temperatures below zero most of us will wear anything if it keeps us toasty.
I was one keyboard stroke away from ordering a slanket – a blanket with sleeves – that's how desperate it can get.
Who cares about being fashionable if it means getting frostbite?
People in places that regularly get this cold know how to dress for the weather.
If I'd known there was going to be snow on the ground for a month I'd have make the effort to get some stylish snow wear in advance.
Because I was caught unawares, I had to settle for a frantic rummage through skiwear bags, loft and parents' garage for anything that might keep the chills at bay.
The real killer is the tricky tightrope of looking smart enough for the office while being warm enough to step outside without risk of losing an extremity.
Woolly
That's my defence for a series of "eclectic" outfits accessorised with a woolly Mongolian hat (emergency purchase at Leeds festival in the rain), pink wellies (emergency Primark purchase on a hen do), one running glove (to be transferred to the bare hand when that is frozen claw-like), all topped off with a black quilted jacket, complete with corporate logo (unwanted gift from a mate), which instantly adds around a stone and turns me into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
The double whammy of post-Christmas poverty, plus a reluctance to chance breaking a limb by venturing to the shops, means I've been unable to upgrade this outfit to something slightly even vaguely acceptable.
There's no doubt about it, the weather has been an all-round dignity-stripper.
I always look forward to summer but this year it can't come soon enough.
I never thought I'd say such a thing but looking good in a bikini should be a piece of cake compared to looking good in the snow.
Christmas comes early in our house
ON a similarly wintry theme – I wonder, could we be the last people in Leeds to still have their Christmas tree?
I don't mean a bare, brown, needle-less shadow, lying in the yard, waiting to be taken to the tip.
And I don't even mean one of those re-plantable eco-friendly trees.
I'm talking about a fully decorated, lights on every evening, fully functional Christmas tree, still standing in the corner of the room as if it was December 19, not January 19.
Is that weird?
The thing is, with 12th night being mid-week we were too busy to strip it and since then we've just been too busy/lazy to do it.
It fills a bare corner and looks so cheerful, I must admit I've been pushing for it to stay as long as possible.
It's quite fitting that we should be one of the last to have their tree, as we were definitely one of the last to purchase one.
Again we were too busy/lazy to get organised early on (anyone spotting a trend here?) and ended up leaving it until December 22, only to find most places had sold out – and we should know, we tried about eight across the city.
Anyway, as we all know, it's unlucky to leave your decorations up beyond 12th night – January 5 – and if you do, you're supposed to leave them up all year.
I'm not overly superstitious so that suits me fine, having a little slice of festive cheer in the house all year long.
And if it lasts long enough, next Christmas we might just be the first in Leeds to have their tree up.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
