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On Monday, it snowed. A lot. Or, at least, a lot for here. I believe that the last time London received this much snowfall was eighteen years ago. As I cycled through Kensington Gardens on my way into work, folks were taking walks, taking pictures, building snow-people, et cetera. Tuesday and Wednesday were perfectly clear -- and cold -- days... and now it is snowing again, with four to six inches on the ground from overnight!
This is more like it! Tis what Winter should be like! Winter should be cold and snowy and dark -- but not too dark. Thus far, I have lived in and around New York City[1a,1b]; Amherst, Massachusetts[2a,2b]; Kamioka, Japan[3a,3b]; Phoenix, Arizona[4a,4b]; Chicago[5a,5b]; and Oxford, England[6a,6b]. Oxford is, by far, the furthest North that I have ever lived. As such, Winters here are far too dark... but generally not very cold -- I regularly go out sans coat -- and nearly no snow. In 2007, my first Winter here, we had exactly one snowfall that stuck. It was such a momentous occasion that the Oxford University Society of Change Ringers declared a snowball fight (photos here, including some of Yours Truly) in the University Park! In 2008, there was no snow whatsoever in the Winter. The only snow that we had fell after the Spring Equinox... and the one snowfall with any accumulation fell on April 6th! Even then, it only lasted for a few hours before melting away.
In short, my Winters in Oxford have been, until now, completely wrong: Too much dark, nearly no cold and snow. Hence, this week is a great relief! It has been cold, it is snowing as I type this entry... and the dark is finally abating! As of the day before yesterday, February 3rd, Oxford now receives more sunlight than New York City does on the Winter Solstice. This may sound like an odd measure, but I am a native New Yorker and, thus, my sunlight standards are set by where I grew up. In contrast, Oxford receives less sunlight than the shortest day in New York City on each day from November 8th through February 2nd! That is eighty-seven days where we get less light than the minimum that I am accustomed to! Eeep! Thankfully, I have gone South for part of this time -- two weeks in the States and one in Japan -- to break up the period of Great Darkness. Still, it is very much something that needs to be endured and I, for one, am happy that it is over once more.
Thus, for now, we have finally achieved what I believe Winter should be. It is cold. It is snowing. It is dark... but not too dark. My only regret is that I will be in London this afternoon, when the follow-up to the 2007 OUSCR snowball fight happens. Other than that, all is well. So... huzzah! And welcome, Winter!!
[1a] At a latitude of 40.7 degrees North.
[1b] From 1975 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2001, for a total of 17.5 + 5 = 22.5 years.
[2a] At a latitude of 42.4 degrees North.
[2b] From 1992 to 1996, for 4 years.
[3a] At a latitude of 36.3 degrees North.
[3b] Half time from December 1998 to June 2003, for a total of about 2 years.
[4a] At a latitude of 33.3 degrees North.
[4b] From 2001 to 2003, for 2 years.
[5a] At a latitude of 41.9 degrees North
[5b] From 2003 to 2006, for 2.5 years.
[6a] At a latitude of 51.8 degrees North.
[6b] From 2006 to present, for 3 years.
This is more like it! Tis what Winter should be like! Winter should be cold and snowy and dark -- but not too dark. Thus far, I have lived in and around New York City[1a,1b]; Amherst, Massachusetts[2a,2b]; Kamioka, Japan[3a,3b]; Phoenix, Arizona[4a,4b]; Chicago[5a,5b]; and Oxford, England[6a,6b]. Oxford is, by far, the furthest North that I have ever lived. As such, Winters here are far too dark... but generally not very cold -- I regularly go out sans coat -- and nearly no snow. In 2007, my first Winter here, we had exactly one snowfall that stuck. It was such a momentous occasion that the Oxford University Society of Change Ringers declared a snowball fight (photos here, including some of Yours Truly) in the University Park! In 2008, there was no snow whatsoever in the Winter. The only snow that we had fell after the Spring Equinox... and the one snowfall with any accumulation fell on April 6th! Even then, it only lasted for a few hours before melting away.
In short, my Winters in Oxford have been, until now, completely wrong: Too much dark, nearly no cold and snow. Hence, this week is a great relief! It has been cold, it is snowing as I type this entry... and the dark is finally abating! As of the day before yesterday, February 3rd, Oxford now receives more sunlight than New York City does on the Winter Solstice. This may sound like an odd measure, but I am a native New Yorker and, thus, my sunlight standards are set by where I grew up. In contrast, Oxford receives less sunlight than the shortest day in New York City on each day from November 8th through February 2nd! That is eighty-seven days where we get less light than the minimum that I am accustomed to! Eeep! Thankfully, I have gone South for part of this time -- two weeks in the States and one in Japan -- to break up the period of Great Darkness. Still, it is very much something that needs to be endured and I, for one, am happy that it is over once more.
Thus, for now, we have finally achieved what I believe Winter should be. It is cold. It is snowing. It is dark... but not too dark. My only regret is that I will be in London this afternoon, when the follow-up to the 2007 OUSCR snowball fight happens. Other than that, all is well. So... huzzah! And welcome, Winter!!
[1a] At a latitude of 40.7 degrees North.
[1b] From 1975 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2001, for a total of 17.5 + 5 = 22.5 years.
[2a] At a latitude of 42.4 degrees North.
[2b] From 1992 to 1996, for 4 years.
[3a] At a latitude of 36.3 degrees North.
[3b] Half time from December 1998 to June 2003, for a total of about 2 years.
[4a] At a latitude of 33.3 degrees North.
[4b] From 2001 to 2003, for 2 years.
[5a] At a latitude of 41.9 degrees North
[5b] From 2003 to 2006, for 2.5 years.
[6a] At a latitude of 51.8 degrees North.
[6b] From 2006 to present, for 3 years.
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xxx
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Still, this is the first time that I have taken the daring new step of footnotes with dual markers (i.e., a number and a letter in tandem). So... whatcha think, Cutie? Am I sexy or what? *wink*
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*geek love*
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Why the Bangles, and not S&G?
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And, yes, I had noticed that the period from Samhain to Imbolc lines up almost with the period when Oxford receives less light than the shortest day in NYC.
Hope you're enjoying your cold and your snow!
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It's only 23° F. here now, but it's supposed to reach 50 on Sunday.
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I am sorry that our phone conversation was cut a little short the other day -- NYU theater weeks are somehow always kind of nutty! -- but it was wonderful to hear your voice. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
*hugs*
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As for our phone conversation: Please don't give it a second thought, my dear! I understand well that when your sweetie has just finished cooking you dinner, it is a Good IdeaTM to go and eat it with her! *grin* (Hope it was yummy!)
It was indeed lovely to hear your voice! Given the relative shortness of the conversation, perhaps we should do it again soon?
Oh, and my week is indeed going quite well -- thank you! I know I've been terrible about blogging of late. Mea culpa! There has been too much going on for me to find the time to write about it all!
*hugs & snuggles*
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Yes, we should have another conversation soon! Um, but when is the issue... Friday evening this week is not too busy yet for me. Beyond that, um, we may be looking at week after next. (See previous paragraph.)
Hope you had a good weekend!
xoxoxoxoxo (and some snuggles too)
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As for when might be a good time to talk? Hurm... Friday evening, I'm afraid, is not so good for me. This weekend is a special anniversary for
I would very much like to talk to you again, my dear, as it is always a pleasure to spend time with you... in whatever medium! I do understand "busy", though, so no problem whatsoever if we have to wait a little while until we can connect again. Looking at the week after next, I see that I have a late night video conference on Thu Feb 26 and tickets to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform Othello on Fri Feb 27. Is there any time between Monday and Wednesday of that week that works for you? *crosses fingers* If so, let me know and let's do it! *grin*
Hope that you are having a good week, Sweetheart!
xxoxxosoxxoxxosoxxoxxoso[*]
[*] The "s" is for "snuggles". A bit unconventional, I know, as "kiss" does not begin with "x" and "hug" does not begin with "o". Nonetheless, an "o" looks like arms hugging... and an "s" looks like two bodies snuggling! ;-)
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Suddenly I feel the urge to walk like an Egyptian!
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*hugs*
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I remember very well a pre-emptive anti-war demo that we were at in January 2003 down in Tucson. How I brought a jacket with me, as it was January, and it was so unnecessary!
Miss you, KB!
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