The Changing Seasons – December 2019

This challenge is hosted by Su from Zimmerbitch. You can find out how to participate at the end of this post!

In her post Su expresses feelings of anger and frustration about the stare of the world, which I fully share. Here in the UK this month the electorate were conned into electing a Brexit-enabling and clearly dishonest, regressive and incompetent Conservative government. Just don’t get me started…

The end of the month was upsetting. I finished work for Christmas on Friday 20th and was ok for a couple of days. Christmas eve night saw me awake half the night with nightmares and this continued for several days. By the 30th I had pretty much retreated into my own head because my mood was so low. I was barely speaking or eating and had no energy for anything.

So today I have at least summoned enough energy to write this post, which may be a sign of improvement!

Earlier in the month we visited some old school friends. It was the day of the election results and I attempted to drown my sorrows with Sake. I made the interesting discovery that it does not give me a hangover….

During our visit we had a day out in Stratford. This is famous for being the birthplace of England’s second greatwst playwrite after Ernie Wise. I have never really understood the fuss about Shakespeare I confess. The olde-worlde architecture was cool though.

Back home, Lancaster has had an ice rink and assorted other activities in the main square. Including this ginormous whirly thing.

You might think December a poor month in the garden. Not in my greenhouse where a number of winter flowering South African bulbs have been at their best, including these specimens of Daubenya zeyheri.

The new camera theregore had some macro photography opportunities.

The end of the month I was off work and had a very cold walk along the promenade at Morecambe to take some black and white photos.

The walk ended with a coffee at Brucciani’s. This coffee shop and ice cream parlour first opened in 1939 and is now a listed building as most of the interior is unchanged. When I was growing up there was a second shop in my home town on the other side of the bay. This is long gone but the original hangs on despite a Costa opening next door.

The last day of 2019 has been sunny and mild. The first of the daffodils are appearing in the greenhouse at least – this is the tiny thumbnail sized flower of Narcissus asturiensis.

There has been new art this month too. I am working on these redwood cones and have switched back to graphite for the first time in years. The CD was a Christmas gift and I have been enjoying it, though not as much as their first album.

Finally I want to say that I hope our friends in Australia are OK despite the dreadful fires there. And that I wish all of you a wonderful 2020.

If you would like to join in, here are the challenge guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

• Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
• Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

• Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
• Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to Su’s original post, she can update hers with links to all of yours.