I have to admit that I cheated this year. One of my own traditions has always been to head out on the winter solstice to capture one last look at the outgoing ‘seasonal’ year. By luck the weather has usually been kind. But this year the weather, but mainly ‘other’ duties, prevented any notion of a trip……so here is an image of the shortest day from an earlier year.
From now on the daylight hours should gradually get longer, though it will seem an age till we notice any real benefit, but it is a start.
But the day had a surprise in store. The skies cleared towards evening and the sun added some colour to the descending gloom of the longest night ahead. No time to head out anywhere so a quick shot across the garden will have to suffice this year…..
Winter has yet to bite in our part of the world. We know it must visit us soon, but at least we can now be smug in the knowledge that the longest night is now behind us and spring is not that far away.
22nd December
© David Oakes 2013
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Great Story. I’m glad the longest day is behind us. Spring cannot come soon enough for me.
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Wonderful photos and lovely story. Here it bucketed down all day, together with a pretty hard wind, force 6-8. Today is much friendlier.
It’s a beautiful thought to end the OLD and start the NEW all fresh and crisp. This is also what my dear friend and second mum told me last week. She is clearly not the only one thinking like this. I will let her know when she returns from Christmas with her daughter and the family and her 90th birthday that she will celebrate overthere. Maybe there is a small chance of popping over with P&O ferries for one of them 3days cruises. Boarding at 6 a.m., sailing at 9 a.m., next day on the shuttlebus and train from Hull to Hunmanby, walk to her house, be there for 3 hours, and walk back to the station and return to the ferry. Arriving back in Europoort the following day. They call it a 3 days cruise…. LOL 😀 But then I will have seen her and hugged her. 🙂
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Sounds like a good idea and a nice surprise for her. You get a mini cruise and the chance to surprise her and to share some time together. Just got to keep your fingers crossed that there are no storms in the North Sea….I hope it works out well for you.
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These were both nice shots, David! Have a nice Christmas if we don’t cross paths untill then.
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and I wish you and yours the same. But also look forward to what you will bring us next year on your blog. All the very best.
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Happy Christmas, David. May the New Year bring the best of everything to you and yours….including good weather.
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Thank you very much……I also look forward to keeping up with your blog in the New Year. All the very best.
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Beautiful images, David. I’m especially taken with the first one.
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Thanks….a storm did follow on from those dark clouds gathering in the middle…that was last year and today we have storms again!
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The light in the last image is wonderful. Happy Christmas to you and yours over the festive season.
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Your first pic, which is beautiful BTW, looks so much like the Summer solstice we might have here! If that is your Winter, then I’m over there, quick…. 😛
Merry Christmas, David!
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It was one of those special winter days and I have been fortunate to have had many similar days fall on the Solstice….this year it was not to be and since then the country has been lashed by storms, heavy flooding and gales. So it isn’t always sweetness and light!
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