Friday, December 18, 2009

How short is short

This is just before sunrise, around 9.30 am. The sun sets around 3 pm. So the days are short compared to Quito or Mombasa, though a lot longer than on St. Lawrence Island or Novaya Zemlya.

I am always surprised when people moan about how dark the winter gets. I rarely notice. And I'm the one without central heating, motorized transport or mains electricity. One reason for not worrying about it is that I spend a lot of time outdoors and am forced to deal with what comes my way. Whining about nature would sort of invalidate every single choice I've taken the last fifteen years.

But the fact that I can to some extent choose my own working hours is probably at least as important. As this picture indicates, I'm dicking around and looking at sunrises at a time when almost everybody else is at work, so no reason to feel all high and superior.

3 comments:

coastkid said...

working outdoors people ask me isnt it a bit grim at times?,alot of folk think hot sun all day like there package holidays is great,i tell them the change of seasons and embracing there good points is far more rewarding...

Oldfool said...

Winter solstice is 1747GMT December 21. The sun is going to stop going south and start back once again without having to make human sacrifice or anything. It's hard to believe that the universe pays no attention to our holidays.
I am experiencing almost twice as much daylight as you are now and yes I'm pissing and moaning about it. What else has an old man got to do?

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