When we lived in Toronto, my wife Jan and I took a vacation in the Caribbean each winter, for several years in a row. Then in the autumn of 2004, we bought our home in France and from then on, devoted our travel budget to European trips.
But when we were heading south, we found that the best time for a two-week Caribbean vacation was the last week in January plus the first week in February. Not only were Jan and I fed up with Toronto’s ice and snow by then, but also it was a magical time of year when nights were becoming noticeably shorter, and days longer. So when we returned home in February, we could see a real difference in the amount of available daylight.
And now in Daglan, we are at that time of year when we’re actually seeing more daylight. Mornings are still pretty gloomy until 8 a.m. or even later, but that’s partly because we’ve been going through a bit of a rainy period. Usually the sun breaks through as the morning rolls along, as it did today, and the day turns out bright and beautiful.
A few weeks ago, our sky was almost pitch black by 5:30 or so. But things are changing. I’m showing off the photo below not because it’s particularly beautiful or unusual, but simply because it demonstrates how things are looking from our front steps at 5:45 in the evening these days. Here’s the view of the bell tower in our church, looking across a neighbour’s yard:
There’s still some light in the sky at 5:45 p.m.
I’m sure we’ll have some cold weather before we’re done with January and February, but right now it feels like the sun is giving us some rays of hope.
Thanks, Loren — it’s good to be reminded it’s not only Canadians who get the winter blues. Not sure, but I think the light is looking a little less gloomy these days when 5 o’clock comes around.
I’m sure that’s right, Paul. By February 1, you’ll be running around in just a tee shirt. (Of course, you’ll be freezing, but you can still do it. At least it will be light at 5 p.m.!)