The problem with winter in England is the darkness. It closes in before tea-time and the nights are long. I don’t mind the long nights so much, except that it limits what can be done outside. I rather like the feeling of closing myself in of an evening, curtains drawn and the warmth of light within my cocoon. There is a quietness about the world and a comfortable sleepiness that I rather like.
I don’t mind waking to darkness either, though it seems a little unnatural to be up so long before the sun every day and, with the small dog, out before the dawn has broken the blackness. It is still dark when I leave for work, but now that we have passed the winter solstice and the year is moving determinedly towards spring, I will not complain at that… because I get to drive eastwards into the morning and watch the rising of the sun.
And some days, I don’t drive very far before I have to just pull over and watch in wonder… Under such a sky, one can only live with passion.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
The quietness of the world is comforting…so are blog entries like this! I read them from my own cocoon – and don’t worry about the darkness.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Darkness has its own beauty 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sue, I’ve been waiting for a beautiful sunrise to feature for the month of January on the Welcome Page header. I’d love to feature this one, and to write up a mini-bio of you with a photo. If you object, please let me know. I’d like to publish it in a post also on Monday 1/11/16. Happy New Year! Chryssa
LikeLiked by 2 people
Of course I don’t mind! Please help yourself, Chryssa … and thank you 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, Sue! Thanks! I’ll send you the link when published as a post. Same content will be on the Before Sundown welcome page. Happy Sunday! 💛 Chryssa
LikeLike
Thanks Chryssa 🙂
LikeLike
You can’t not stop for a sky like that.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
No, t just had to be done. xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Is it me though or does it seem darker for longer in the mornings the last week? I get to school and it’s just getting lighter!
That sunset was beautiful! I don’t blame you for stopping to capture it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That was yesterdays dawn in the pouring rain 🙂 At eight o’clock. I think the cloud cover is delaying the sunrise… there were holes in that cloud with brilliant, clear blue beyond.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s insane, how dark it seems at the moment!!!
LikeLike
I know! Though there is a hint of blue sky here today 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s all dull and cloudy here again today. Thankfully the rain had stopped now, but it was wet All night so Lil Man’s footy match is cancelled due to waterlogged pitch!
LikeLike
Yes, we had the rain too and everything is still soaked. I don’t think the blue will last long here either.. grey clouds are moving in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you know it’s a British January alright!!
LikeLike
It seems fairly typical. But at least it isn’t freezing too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Fabulous photograph of a winter dawn by Sue Vincent.. I love the fact that the days are getting longer.. because we are an hour ahead of the UK we are now light until nearly 6.45 pm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful picture and recount which breathes a life of contentment. Truly attitude is everything when considering one’s life.
I love the last sentence most “Under such a sky, one can only live with passion”. It is exactly the feeling I get when I look at the sunrise from where I live. Be well and thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLike
How can you not, when the sky flames daily? 🙂 This was an amazing moment as the rain fell and the land seemed to mirror the sky. Such a gift to see it and know yourself part of it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true 🙂
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
Lovely post, Sue… lovely photos too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a glorious moment 🙂 Thanks for reblogging 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Although I live on the other side of the pond I have always been an early riser. I love seeing the dark turn the world beautiful. Even on rainy days. :o)
LikeLiked by 2 people
So do I. I’m always up early ( except today, but that’s another story 🙂 ) and it is quite an intimate moment watching the sun rise in a silent world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite kind of dark mornings or evenings are those when I don’t have to go out and can stay cosily inside with a cup of tea and a good book. I also sometimes like rainy days when I can do the same thing. Unfortunately, whoever up there plans the weather obviously does it with one eye on my working schedule because rain always seems to coincide with me either going to or returning from work. 🙂
LikeLike
We had a bit of sunshine today on my way in to work. The heavens opened on my way home, so I’ll get nothing done outside…and now we have storm-light when it is time to walk Ani… We should put in a complaint 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you should definitely get in touch with your local authority. They’re clearly not sending you the right kind of weather.
LikeLike
MY local authority definitely wouldn’t… but that’s another story 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I, like you, don’t mind being cocooned in the warmth at home on a cold and dark winter evening. Having said that, I also love to be up early on a summer morning with the sun shining and birds singing.
Another thing about being up early is managing to get photos like these! I am going to try and get a few myself this year. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really do moan about the ruddy five o’clock alarm call seven days a week (though I got an unexpected lie in this morning!) but the dawns make up for it. Every day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They certainly do, judging by your gorgeous photos! 🙂
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
What a great capture, Sue. I think that cocooning is necessary for our spirit. It only gets tedious by about late February for me ! ☺
LikeLike
Thankfully the dog makes me crawl out occasionally 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t see the sun rise where we live in NC – too many trees! But I do get up when we are down at the beach to take in its glory. Thanks for giving me a glimpse in the meantime.
LikeLike
I grumble all the time about how early I have to rise, but honestly, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
LikeLike
O golly, goodness gracious! How can we not be in awe of such beauty? If it’s long days and short nights that play a role in the sunrise and sunset, then give them to me anytime. Wondrous Sue, thank you.
LikeLike
It was an utterly awesome thing to watch and know yourself part of that creation, Susan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surely the beautiful skies are some compensation Sue. 🙂
LikeLike
They’ll do me nicely as silver linings, Debby 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What beautiful photos, Sue! I would stop for a sunrise like that. I don’t mind the darkness either, as long as I’m tucked into warm jamma’s, a good book, and a hot cuppa (tea or coffee).
LikeLike
It’s good to be all snuggled up 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning. Magnificent. Mind-blowing captures of sunrise. There are no adequate words. Thanks for sharing, Sue. 😀
LikeLike
You should have seen it Tess… just glorious. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only imagine.
Coming back from Vancouver last week, I took sunrise pictures from the plane. Wow-za, but not as clear as your. 🙂
LikeLike
There is something special about a sunrise in flight. I haven’t seen that for decades. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was my first time and took my breath away. 🙂
LikeLike
I cried the first time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I know what you mean.Made me feel small and unworthy.
LikeLike
Yep… that was about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re slowly un-cocooning, but just by peeking through the curtains for now. Spring is still a long way away. 😀
LikeLike
I’d stay in there a while longer 😉
LikeLike
OMG, what a dawn! Consolation for arising in the dark and facing the chill. Winter is definitely hibernation-inducing.
LikeLike
I could definitely wish I was hibernating this morning! At least for a couple more hours 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Winter sunrises and sunsets a a joy to behold.
LikeLike
As long as there is enough of a break in the clouds 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is that,
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
So much beauty in the world! Though I have to say, I’m not a morning person. I never see the dawn, and I know that you are always an early riser. But I adore sunsets, and can’t resist snapping each one that fills me with wonder. I’m glad you always have your camera with you, to show me what I’m missing.
LikeLike
I have to be up, regardless of choice, but I have always been up early anyway… most days 🙂 I love watching the two ends of the day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The two ends of the day, what a lovely thought. I had to be out on the road at 6 am this morning to take poor Indi for his surgery in Dublin, and I realised that for at least half the year I AM actually up before the dawn! I just never get to appreciate it because I am so busy with getting Carys ready for school. If I didn’t have to use the nights to cram in my writing and me-time, I might be better at getting up in the morning! 😁
LikeLike
You don’t notice when you are up to your eyeballs, do you? Dawn is just being awkward at present, coming up when I’m on the road to work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, or behind clouds and rain, over here.
LikeLike
Here too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos Sue…my favourite time of day 🙂
LikeLike
Mine too, James 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The skies have been rather spectacular of late, haven’t they? I’ve been taking lots of photographs too. Makes up for the long dark in some ways…
LikeLike
It does… the mornings have been incredible… and the stars here amazingly bright. Which means it is cold.. very cold tonight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s snowing right now!
LikeLike
Oh heck… you’re not that far from me… 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely! Just lovely. So glad you shared, so that I can too. =)
LikeLike
Thank you 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the dawn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person