Winter usually creeps in slowly, almost unnoticed, as autumn slows to its end. Not this year. On Thursday I headed north wearing a short sleeved T-shirt. On Friday I drove back from the meeting through a blizzard. Temperatures had dropped, the skies were rather ominous, and sleet had mingled with the rain as we had headed west to Stockport. Even so, we had not anticipated the heavy snowfall on the return journey as we crossed the hills. The unlit roads were almost invisible as large white flakes blew across the hills, reflecting light back and making the journey hazardous. Suddenly, it was winter.
This morning I headed south again, but not before the ice had been scraped from the windows of the car in the darkness. Dawn was a long time coming; first light no more than a blood-red line oozing between the horizon and the clouds, shedding barely enough of a glow to illuminate the piles of snow that still remained huddled in the shadow of the stone walls. Early Christmas trees had gone up over the weekend, their lights twinkling with childhood promise in the twilight. The museum of childhood in the 17thC Sudbury Hall wore a mantle of frost on its lawns as I passed where, not so long ago, I had admired the daffodils. Where has the year gone?
As the sun slowly rose, I got to thinking about how time seems to have a mind of its own. Normally the dawn is a brief glory, easily missed. Today it seemed to take hours to unfold its colours and I drove for a long time in darkness, watching the silhouettes of the trees gradually separate themselves from the night.
It has been a year as full of magic and mystery as any golden dawn. Full of new beginnings too as my son starts a new chapter of his journey and moves into the light of a new day. And it seems a lifetime ago that we headed through the snow to Scotland on the trip that inspired But ‘n’ Ben; even so, the year has flown and yet somehow we have managed to do so much… in a time that has been no time at all.
Doomsday: Scions of Albion started the year. But’n’Ben followed along with Mister Fox: The Legend and Mister Fox and the Demon Dogs, all with Stuart France... not to mention the release of the updated edition of the Mystical Hexagram with G.Michael Vasey and the production of Ben’s Bits for Steve Tanham… it has been a busy year! Behind the scenes too, we have been working on the final draft of Leaf and Flame, the Silent Eye’s April workshop, creating the Arthurian landscape for the weekend. And preparing for the research trip for Bean Sidhe in the new year… Busy barely covers it!
But, on the other hand, I can say with absolute honesty… there is nothing I would rather be doing with my life than this.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
It was unseasonably warm here for much of the month, and then suddenly, Saturday, the first taste of winter weather arrived.
It’s always nice to be in the moment, although the moments do move quicker and quicker each year, don’t they? 😉
I’m glad you’re happily busy and productive — daffodils will be back around before you know it!
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Same here, though it hit Friday… with a vengeance!
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Our seasons are usually like that. This year, winter started around 1pm on November 14th. No snow, yet. But it’s cold.
You’ve had an amazing year. May the one coming be even more amazing.
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It would be nice to think it will be, Marilyn… though I have a feeling it will start with a lot of very cold snow 🙂
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You missed one out! The year started with the first Fox book, ‘Mister Fox: the Legend’… published in February…
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Didn’t quite miss it 🙂 Just ‘not necessarily in the right order’ 🙂
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Stunning sunrises
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It was a fabulous morning to be driving, Derrick 🙂
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And that’s all that matters 🙂
PS great photos.
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The weather is odd here too. We’re getting heavy rains two months after the monsoon ended. Parts of the city were flooded again. —- Suzanne
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I think it is evidence of global shifts.
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Yes, it has been rather a shock…the sudden change in weather, although I do prefer more seasonal weather and rather like these crisp clear days. I absolutely love your photographs in this post…..especially the header. Thank you and enjoy the day…janet:)
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It was a glorious morning Janet when the light finally broke through. I’m fond of cold autumn days too.
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Beautiful photos Sue, thye weather is odd this year…we have buds opening on plants because it is warm, yet on Stump Cross there was a lot of snow on Saturday…don’t know what’s going on..
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It does seem strange. There are spring flowers out here now.
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
Busy is best, whatever the time of year…
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Thanks for reblogging! I always prefer to be busy.. even if doing nothing 🙂
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The brain is never idle, is it?
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Even silence is active 🙂
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Love those photos. And you certainly have had a busy year, sounds like you’re living the dream…
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Creatively, I’d have to agree with that, Suzanne… now if the rest would just play nicely… 😉
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Time and nature…for sure have a mind of their own. Your final photo is exquisite !
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It was an incredibly beautiful sky 🙂
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Truly a ‘year of years’ and no mistake. But at least you can look back upon it and just think to yourself…”WOW!”
Now I’m off to dig out me long-johns! Keep Smiling 😊
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Long Johns sound like a darned good idea 🙂 Getting very chilly around the edges!
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Indeed. Its come early this year. 😱
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And all in one go too!
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BTW… stunning images….!!
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Thanks, Darren 🙂
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Beautiful post, Sue, and I love your photos as well. This year has flown past, I can hardly believe it is almost December and yet – when I look back, I see how much I’ve done. It just seems that the days are moving faster for some reason.
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It seems incredible that the year has almost gone already…
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It does. I can’t believe it is six months since the longest day. I was in hospital recovering from surgery and it doesn’t seem that long ago, really. And yet here we are, heading towards the great turning of the year once more.
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I refuse to believe it has anything to do with time going faster as you get older.. 😉 I prefer to think we are just using our time to the full 🙂
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Yes, that’s it, exactly! 🙂
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😀
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So beautiful! The older I get the faster time moves. Scary!
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It does… I think that’s why they say it’s all downhill from here 😉
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LOL I’ll put my seatbelt on then.
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It’s a fun ride 🙂
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I always think it’s good to be ‘happy’ busy rather than ‘stressed’ busy.
Didn’t know you’d come to Scotland – and you didn’t call in!
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Early January… I’m not even sure we’d really ‘met’ then, Mary 🙂
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Probably not. Maybe next time 🙂
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That would really be nice 🙂
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Time has been flying by, the busier we are, the faster it goes. In a blink, it’ll be New Year’s again. I’m enthralled with your sunrise shots, even if they are a long time coming at this time of year. 🙂
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It was a sunrise worth waiting for… but isn’t it strange how the years fly yet the minutes can drag?
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Indeed!
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Wow, Sue, I don’t know how you’re writing and pumping out books and keeping up with 2 blogs and life, I thought I was bad. Do you come up for air? Lol. And teach you to leave home without a jacket! 🙂
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I know… a daft thing to do in November… 🙂 It hasn’t warmed up since then either 🙂
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