On Dec 22, 3:13*pm, Tom Bennett wrote:
I haven't noticed any remarks on the passing of the Winter Solstice
which, if my information is correct, occured yesterday at 09.00 UTC.
Well, it's always an important date for me so I'll mention it now.
Although the colder weather is usually still ahead of us, I always
Iook forward to the point in the calendar when the sun stops
regressing and begins its slow climb back to us, with the promise of
those lighter evenings to come. *I appreciate the effects aren't
apparent until January and the days actually grow shorter for a wee
while, yet, but the 21st December still gives me a lift and I'll
continue to celebrate it.

It's always a long haul to get to this point: November is of use to
neither man nor beast and December isn't much better until we reach
this particular "turn" of the astronomical year (and the long Xmas
break that follows hard on its heels).

No comments on looking forward to the New Year, however. *One glance
at any of the newspapers puts me right off that.

Have a good Christmas.

- *Tom
SW Essex

The solstice actually took place at 1202 UT, a far more
civilised time of day, not that that's much help with dismal ********
of Christmas still to come.

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.