Winter Cheer

Japonica

Winter began today. How do I know? It wasn't the low cloud and gloom. We have had a lot of that lately. It wasn't the occasional showers. We've had them. It wasn't the cool southerly wind. We've had that too. It is something in the air, a chill that seeps into the bones. It will be snowing in the mountains properly this time.

We have been lucky. Autumn went on for an extra five or six weeks, and now we have to knuckle down to winter. But there's always something like the Japonica to cheer us.