Turning Tides

The winter solstice came and went, a day like any other in the grand scheme of things, animals fed, loose ends tied up before the conventions of Christmas and New Year put a hault on everything but them most creative of activities. I observed the Solstice passing, its been a year of highs and lows, so I took a moment to rekindle the memories of 2011 and to look forward to what 2012 will bring, new challenges, new beginnings and the development of the new things that began this year and which will be carried forward into the next.

Christmas day is here, and this year more than ever it seems to have gotten in the way more than it has in previous years. There is no work for 4 days, most things are shut down until after New Year, it wasn't that long ago that Christmas day in Scotland at least was a working day, with (as himself said earlier) New Year being the time to look back and look forward, the changing of the seasons and the year, as I said to him then, that was the solistice and he could do nothing but agree. That said maybe the Vikings had it right, celebrate for the whole month and welcome back the sun, longer days and the new year all at the same time.

Two weeks from today, the first of the fire festivals begin, in Scalloway and finish in March when day light is finally with us again for more than a few hours at a time.