At Sunset on first day of winter.

Actually there can be a debate about when the first day of winter is!

Answer lies in whether you decide to opt for astronomical or meteorological seasons.

Meteorological is the simpler; it divides the year into four seasons of three full months each based on the Gregorian calendar. And it’s easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics. Under this system winter begins every year on 1 December and lasts until the end of February; spring is on 1 March.

The astronomical season is more complex and variable because the first day of winter falls on the winter solstice, which arrives later in the year and can vary slightly from year to year. Typically it’s between 20 and 23 December. This year the winter solstice falls on 22 December and spring is 21 March 2024, just a few days before we go to the Hebrides on holiday.

A cold day, never got above freezing. We didn’t spend too long on our late afternoon walk, a duvet jacket and thicker hat job. We did some things in the house in the morning, a few associated with our grandson’s baptism on Sunday.