The seasons are turning and already it's quite dark in the mornings when you get up. There's no doubt that winter is on its way. And what's more, you've taken a look at your winter clothing and half of it no longer fits.
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In a country like South Africa winters can get pretty cold, but because they don't last that long and it's mostly not as cold as it gets in the northern hemisphere, very few houses have central heating. Many people rely on heaters of some kind or coal fires to heat up houses. But these do not always do the job. Especially on those cold Free State mornings when it feels as if the air is biting you.
What can you do to stay warm this winter?
Invest in a blanket. Supermarkets and big department stores sell light and very warm blankets and they are not expensive. If it is moderately cold, put it on top of your duvet cover and if it is really freezing, put it between yourself and the duvet cover. These blankets are also great for keeping warm while you watch TV.
Get some exercise. Nothing warms you up like a good long walk or a run. Your blood starts circulating – even to your hands and feet and you will retain that warm glow long after you've stopped moving about.
Get the layered look. Wearing different layers of clothing traps the air between the clothes and warms it up. It is therefore better to wear three different garments – brushed cotton is nice and warm – than one thick one. Also, if it warms up, you can take off the top layer or two, which you can't do if you're only wearing one thick garment.
Wear a woollen hat. If your feet are cold, put a hat on your head. It sounds crazy, but it works. Your body loses most of its heat through your head. The minute this happens, circulation diminishes in extremities like hands and feet. Keep your head warm and your feet won't get cold. Simple.
Get warm socks. Once your feet are freezing there are few things, except a warm bath, that will heat them up again properly. Once they're warm, keep them warm – and the best way to do this is with a pair of hiking socks. Fleamarkets often sell them at half the price you would pay in sports shops.
Windbreakers win. Windbreakers do just that – they keep the wind off your skin. And when it's cold and the wind blows, winter chill really sets in. Windbreakers have the added benefit that they also keep you dry. And everyone who has been wet and cold in the middle of the winter will know how difficult it is to get warm again.
Keep a jersey at school. When you're freezing it's difficult to learn. Keep an old school jersey in your locker in case you suddenly need it. You will be truly grateful for it on the day you're unexpectedly cold and shivering.
Snuggle up to a friend. Just make sure you choose the friend carefully. Snuggling up to the wrong person can have all sorts of consequences you might not have anticipated! But especially on a camping trip, there is no better way of warming yourself up than snuggling up to a friend.
Make a fire. There's nothing quite like a fire to give you a feeling of cosy winter cheer. Fires also heat up rooms and if you're camping, they can also be used for cooking food or boiling water – very handy if you're freezing after a long day of hiking.
Scarves and gloves. If you're feeling industrious, you can even knit a scarf yourself, but gloves are best left to the experts. Both scarves and gloves can be bought for reasonably little. Not having freezing hands will definitely contribute to the winter being a more pleasant experience.
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