January Weather

                                                                                 Skiddaw mountain

 

Dear reader,

I do hope you all enjoyed a lovely and peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year to you too.  We had a very quiet time with daughter Jessica, and granddaughter Mary who cooked the lunch, a nut roast and lots of vegetables, delicious. We also had Christmas pudding and brandy butter.  The crackers were a bit of a disappointment, from Marks and Spencer, with no toys or games. However, we had paper hats so felt festive nevertheless. 

Now it is on to 2023 and I am optimistically thinking it will be a good year.  As every day I am alive and maybe there won't be all that many left, I am determined to make each day important and special.  Not with something big but just a small goal to be thought of and then done.  Perhaps writing a new poem  or turning out a draw, or getting in touch with  friend who is not well and cheering them up.  And every day I must do my exercises.  I know this sounds very boring but I do know that when I do do them I walk better and can get up from the floor with some ease. 2023 bring it on!

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Chimp news.  For those of you who have forgotten what the Chimp is, let me just remind you. He is your other self and lives in your head.  He is a very nice chap but difficult sometimes.   His main goal is to look after you and see you come to no harm.   But he can be over zealous.  While the adult human  interprets things in a calm and logical manner the Chimp interprets things in an emotional manner.  Still he was relatively quiet over the break and I didn't have to admonish him more than once.  The Chimp can be your best friend or your worst enemy.  This is the Chimp paradox.  The book about the Chimp Paradox is by Professor Steve Peters.  I have found it very helpful in dealing with anxiety.  My Chimp is my friend but I have to question his wisdom sometimes.

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From Samuel Pepys, 1667, January 1st, in London

'Lay long, being a bitter, cold, frosty day, the frost being now grown old, and the Thames covered with ice.'

From Gilbert White, 1768, January 1st, in Hampshire

'It freezes under people's beds.'

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January Weather

We know from recorded history
that in St. Merryn
a hundred years ago,
there blew great winds
and the sea was smoking white.

We know it was warm in Kent,
where the thrushes thought spring
had come, and piped away.
And primroses were a yellow carpet
in North Norfolk,
or so the parson wrote.

We know of cutting winds in Hampshire,
of icicles and frost and
in Skiddaw on a mild day
a brown spotted butterfly was seen.
We know that hungry church
mice ate bible markers,
hungry people died of cold.

And we know that this dark winter month
had days of snow, that wild clouds
gathered in the sky unleashing icy rain,
churning up the plough.

And yet, we also know
the sun shone in that distant year,
it was warm enough to push through
early snowdrops, and Holy Thorn.
Light was glimpsed, here and there,
all life struggled for its moments.

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With very best wishes, Patricia