Still, cold days

Once the leaves have fallen, the city takes on a starkness. The bare trees stand like ghostly sentinels, branches reaching skyward, allowing the more feeble sunlight to reach further. The sun, when it rises around 8.20am struggles to reach it's high point of the day then fade again by mid afternoon, setting by just after 4pm on the shortest day. It's very low to the southern horizon and usually requires sunglasses when driving! Still there is beauty if you look for it. The following reflections show this, just look around you and it's there for the observant. Though most people only venture out if the have to, heads bent against the cold, scurrying to their next warm building, or out for a quick cigarette or a cup of coffee, that serves to warm the hands as much as the inner person. The still cold days are best. If it's frosty, it promises sunshine rather than the cold grey wet or damp days. The cold seeps into the bones and the sun has no warmth, but it shines, trying and promising to return in the summer.