Shortest Day

Today it's the Winter Solstice, the shortest day, in what might feel like the longest year.  The sun rose at 08:42 and set at 15:39.  

This afternoon the First Minister announced further Covid restrictions from Boxing Day for at least three weeks.  Football will be spectator free and Edinburgh's Hogmanay Party in Princes Street Gardens can't go ahead (although some may not lament that impact).  The new variant Omicron is spreading very rapidly.  We're seeing its impact in record daily case numbers (90,000+) and cancellations as staff / performers are affected by the virus.  I can't help recalling that the 'two week circuit breaker' announced in October 2020 went on in some form until May 2021. 

For me it's a time to retreat even more into books.  These are the ones I've been escaping to over the last few weeks.