After the tumultuous ecvents of yesterday, how can tuesday morning be anything other than an anticlimax of mythic proportion? Such is the lack of anything extraordinary going on this world that the story of a dog giving birth to seventeen puppies is headline news. Perhaps that's desperation to find something other than freezing weather to talk about. Now there's a challenge!

It Happened This Morning

First of all today is the shortest day of the year. A part of me wishes that was the true state of affairs. However, I'm reliably informed that only applies to daylight, and that means tuesday will last until the clocks tell us otherwise.

Secondly, it's also the Winter Solstice, a time of year when the urge to head for the nearest stone circle and engage in wierd communal rituals overcomes us. Must be why everyone is ignoring official advice and insisting on travelling. As it happens, so many of us are getting stuck in rural snowdrifts that survival tips for motorists have been issued. Now we know what we should have brought with us in the first place.

Thirdly, there was a lunar eclipse this morning between six and seven. Sadly I was too comatosed and comfortable to want to witness the celestial ballet that we're riding on, but then since I don't have a working vehicle, my ability to get stuck in a snowdrift on my way to a hippy festival is somewhat compromised.

Going North For Winter

With all the hassle of our inclement weather, I must spare a thought for those who live in places where colder temperatures are an ordinary part of daily life.

I have flown over Greenland as an airline passenger, and the captain broadcast advice to take a look at the stunning views of the frigid realm below. He was right. It was an awesome sight. A frozen wilderness with patches of brown mountain poking through. But perhaps it was just as well no-one stirred. Partly because a crowd looming over me and trying to peer through the tiny porthole was going to be uncomfortable, but also because the airliner would have probably tipped over. The view from thirty thousand feet was spectacular enough, thank you.

As it happens going north for winter is a bit difficult right now. Most of our airports are at a standstill, for all the right reasons, even if people understandably gripe that our aiport operators haven't invested in a fleet of anti-snow vehicles that would ignite a controversy when they remain idle in less wintery years. A bit tough on those who can't get home for christmas perhaps, but the reality is we take air travel for granted, such is the efficiency with which it's normally carried out. Try travelling to Greenland right now. Not entirely convenient, is it?

I discovered this morning the interesting fact that currently Greenland is warmer than the UK. THey ought to keep quiet about that. The last time it got pleasantly warm there a hoard of vikings turned up. Sword and shield might be illegal items these days, but I'm sure we can manage a crowd of drunken barbarians.