I really struggled with the cold today while winkling. It was raining when we arrived and it was horrid, cold, sleety rain that dripped down my hood and onto my nose and surface water was sitting on the sand which meant every time I knelt down I got very wet knees. I put udder cream on my hands to protect them but it had been in the car overnight so was really cold and I think just sealed the cold in rather than protecting them from it. And my feet were cold today too. So cold really… normally I battle through just fine but today I just wussed out and it meant I was nowhere near as quick at picking as usual. Still half a bag though, so even £60 at last weeks prices, hopefully more if the price goes up, but £15 an hour at worst which is more than I think I ever earnt at work.
What I should have done was go and work next to Ady earlier as we would have buoyed each other up I think. With under an hour to go I did just that and he commented on how cold it was too and then drew my attention to the peaks which were totally snowy – on ground just slightly higher the rain had fallen as snow. That made me feel a bit less wussy. I’ll be better tomorrow (and wear more layers).
We went into Fliss and Sandy’s for a cup of tea and also had a bowl of soup too. Sandy had been out picking today too so was also cold and wet. Davies and Scarlett had very sensibly stayed home due to the rain so we then went home to catch up with them. Our post had been delivered and bunged in our car which contained a large amount of various Christmas presents – I think most things are here now.
I had a shower and sat infront of the log burner and slowly defrosted. I went down to the shop to pay for this weeks veg box which we’d collected on the way past earlier. Fliss was there so I stayed for a beer and a chat and felt fine while I was there – I was chatting with Fliss, Ross, Jinty and Ali and it was really nice. But the walk home again finished me off and I could have easily curled up and gone to sleep rather than eating dinner. We watched Cool Runnings and everyone but me is now in bed, and I’m about to head that way myself.
hugs nic. don’t overdo it tho x x your home isn’t warm or dry enough for you to push yourself to the very edge!!
Comment by hharicot — 14 December 2012 @ 12:03 am
It’s been bloody freezing this week. I’ve avoided being out as much as possible, let alone crawling about in rock pools! Hope the weather is a bit kinder to you for your last few winkle-picking hours xxx
(Is it a seasonal thing? Or can you do it all year round? Guess you don’t want to completely de-winkle the place!)
Comment by Alison — 14 December 2012 @ 8:35 am
Thanks guys, wore lots more layers today and did not kneel down so fared lots better. Tomorrow is last day I reckon as we have a Christmas party clashing with the tides on Sunday. Might do an hour or so on Monday before we send winkles off on Tuesday and that is it 🙂 Next time tides are right is Christmas week and we are not planning on picking then no matter how good the prices!
Alison, I think the price in summer means it is just not worth it, it seems to dramatically go up this time of year. Some places do have a season although we don’t here but it tends to only be late November and December that people pick.
Comment by Nic — 14 December 2012 @ 10:55 pm