Winter 3

Season’s Greetings!

Thursday, 24th December, 2015.

Last week I was thinking about the way that gradual change tends to pass almost unnoticed . . . even important things like our children growing up and the days lengthening or shortening.

In November we drove to the Cottage Hospital for Tim’s monthly blood test and the sun had already risen over Maughold Head while I was waiting in the car park.  In December we drove there in the dark.  There was heavy cloud so I wouldn’t have seen the sun rise even if we had been there at the right time.  The only sign of the approaching day was when the car park lights switched off . . . and the sky gradually turned a slightly lighter shade of grey.  While I was waiting, I saw two small birds swoop past and a little later there were some larger birds circling overhead.  It wasn’t light enough to see any more than their dark shapes but they were probably herring gulls riding the air currents over the Mooragh Brooghs.

I am not religious but it seems to me that the time of year in the northern hemisphere when the days start to lengthen again is significant (even if we don’t notice it) and really deserves to be celebrated.  The correct time this year would have been at 04-48 on Tuesday December 22 but there is no point in quibbling about a few days when it is easier to go with the flow and sacrifice the traditional turkey on the 25th.

So Happy Winter Solstice/Happy Christmas/Happy festival of your choice to all our family, friends and any unknown friends out in the blogosphere!