The 22nd of December was the longest night of 2023. The time the northern hemisphere saw the fewest daylight hours of 2023. From that moment on, daylight increased each day. Each morning the sun rose sooner and, each night, took longer to sink back down below the horizon. The difference is marginal at first, you might not have even noticed it yet. But slowly, day by day, we’re seeing more light, and will feel like we have more time to ourselves before and after work.
England has been held down under persistent drizzle and battering winds as the year transitioned from one to the next. We’ve had a few days recently where it barely became day at all. But, still, the daylight grows. We are moving from the darkness, into the light. Soon, there will be sunlight with our morning cups of tea again. One day, the buds will burst green and the birds will sing and the first flowers of spring will show their faces.
Nature holds her course, even as we wobble, even as we hurl our best insults at her, even as we flex our blindest ignorance.
Here are the things I am looking forward to this January:
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