Significant days: Winter solstice
21 December 2004
21 December 2004
The shortest day - 21 December 2004. According to my research, the solstice occurred at 12.41 precisely. I arranged my walk so that I was here on Clifton Ings at that time, as it seemed as good a place as any to be - with trees and open space. The weak winter sun is there in the distance, across the river, behind the buildings of the National Railway Museum. Very low at this time of year, even at midday, and casting dramatic shadows.
Peaceful here, and no one around, except me, with my camera, taking lots of photos of these two trees.
The visit to Clifton Ings was towards the end of my walk. Before that I took a few photos in town, around the Minster and Goodramgate area, including this handsome festive wreath on a door. I don't really enjoy Christmas, or winter in general, but this rather classy wreath reminded me that some parts of it aren't too bad. I like the decorations, and . . . er . . .
I can't help being miserable - it's just so dark. Here we are at almost midday, and it's all really gloomy round here behind the Minster, with even the usually cheerful-looking Treasurer's House mainly bathed in gloom. A small part of its facade reflects what sunlight there is.
This is a bit better - a closer photo of part of the building, from about an hour earlier, before the sun on its very low-in-the-sky course went and hid behind the Minster. I seem to have spent most of the morning wandering around the Minster in a circle. I can't help the slowness and confusion - it's the time of year. Perhaps we're supposed to hide away in a warm corner under some leaves, like hedgehogs do.
And here round the corner in Chapter House Street, it's all shaded and quiet and rather grey, so thank goodness for that white-painted building, which reflects the available sunlight.
Even in the gloomy gloom of Dean's Park, overshadowed by the Minster, I found something beautiful and cheering. This seems to be a herb garden, which you can sit on the edge of on this stone surround. Very handsome. But it's so dark around here, isn't it.
But look, I've found the sun, hiding around the other side of the Minster, and suddenly appearing here on the north side, through the stained glass windows, which now seem lit up from within.
Stained glass, from the outside of the Minster, in Dean's Park.
At last, I've found a brightly lit bit of stone, a little way from the Minster, on Goodramgate. The exceptional Holy Trinity Goodramgate, with its tower all pale and cheering, and the red brick insert where its window should be.
Of course, round by the Minster's west front it's all rather beautiful too. I know that this isn't the usual view, but as I was standing here I admired these wintery shades, of greyish stone, cobbles, paving, and the greenish tinge on the paving. And all those different textures in the various types of stonework. They don't just chuck down concrete slabs and tarmac here.
The Museum Gardens seemed a good place to wander to, in search of winter cheer. I found these yellow mahonias, loads of them in flower on the pathway that leads to the riverside.
Also
in the Museum Gardens this sculpture, of a naked male figure holding up
something I can't really identify (and neither can you, from this photo,
as I've missed it off) but it looked like part of a globe - maybe representing
the world. Anyway, it's getting rather chilly now, in December, so maybe
someone should give the poor chap a coat.
In the background - St Mary's Abbey, all lovely and ruinous and light-reflecting,
as it has been for centuries.
By the riverside, at the edge of the gardens, looking towards Lendal Bridge. On summer days, and summer evenings, lots of people sit here admiring the view, and the rowing club are out on the river, and houseboats are moored here. Now, it's rather wet, and less colourful, apart from those red boats just along the river from the bridge.
As red is a cheerful colour at this time of the year, here's another decorated door, with a cheery wreath. I think this one too was somewhere around the Minster, while I was wandering around it apparently in circles. This is for anyone reading this page who likes Christmas more than I do, as if you do, and you're reading this as Christmas approaches, I wish you good cheer.
Back
at the ings, at Clifton, with a view across this green open space towards
the riverside, with the Station Hotel (called something else now I think,
but it's the Station Hotel to me) on the horizon. The winter sky is very
pale, above the leafless winter trees, but the grass looks as green as ever.
It may be the shortest day, but I managed to make the longest web page from
it.