"In the deep mid-winter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone." Well deep mid-winter feels as though it has arrived. The frost was thick over the car and everything else this morning and has remained so for the whole day. It has been bitterly cold but we have had no wind and lovely blue skies and sunshine - a perfect winter's day. I can't decide whether I love or loath winter. I think I come down on the loathing side but there is something approaching romance as I watched people walking through town yesterday with their coats, gloves and scarves pulled tight around them, heads down, their breath forming a mist, trying to get to their destinations before the cold had a more debilitating effect. I love the Christmas lights that have appeared over the last few days, the cosiness of a warm fire after a cold walk, warming soups, smothering myself in scarves, gloves and warm coats. But then there's the long dark nights, the thought numbingly cold wind and rain, the grey skies and the watery sun; the days that never seem to wake up and the inevitable cough and runny nose that comes just before Christmas - perhaps the reason for my present melancholic state. I'm told to take comfort from the fact that the shortest day is only ten days away, but the shortest day is swiftly followed by the longest night! In the meantime I dream of long, warm summer's evenings, barbecues, dressing in shorts and tee shirts and I have actually got some books from the library about walking and cycling in France which I am studying whilst looking at routes in an atlas.
I've had a cold and cough throughout the week so haven't managed to cycle or run since Saturday, another reason for feeling sorry for myself. Yesterday I spent some of my birthday money on a new pair of running shoes. I've never had a pair of dedicated running shoes before so hope they will help with the achilles problem that crops up every so often; but I don't get to use them until this cold has ceased.
Last night we put up our new Christmas tree, an artificial one much to Lucy's disgust, but we have all agreed that with lights and baubles it looks good. This evening we are attending Mary's Life Groups Christmas dinner at Chinese restaurant. So, the James family are getting into the Christmas spirit.