November

Good afternoon all,

So, here we are. Halloween has spooked by, the clocks have been put back. The sun is setting at 4.35pm out here, not to reappear for 15 hours until 7.35am. We are going to lose another hour on the sunset side, and nearly two on the sunrise time. Oh happy days.

It is November.

I have updated and cleaned up my sidebar a little. I have now got a small image of a poppy, which is the symbol of the Armistice Day commemorations on November 11th here in the UK. This day is also marked in many other countries in Europe, as well as the USA,  I think. The actual act of Remembrance here in Britain will take place on Sunday morning, November 12th, at the 11th hour.

Nearly two weeks later, we reach the Thanksgiving festival on November 23rd. The only place in the UK which declares a holiday for this event is the town of Stornoway. Caught me out when I arrived here two years ago, and I came in to do shopping. Nothing open. Thursdays tend to be the days for communions, and that can also catch out the unwary. Schools are closed and shops close early. There is still a very strong and conservative church tradition in Lewis and Harris, one of the reasons for the absence of a Sunday ferry service. The only occasion when they do run a boat across is when the Saturday sailing has had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

As Kate has eminently pointed out in several of her entries, November 1st is the festival of Samhainn in the old Celtic calendar. The start of winter. So, without further ado, I'll let you get on with All Saints (today), All Hallows (tomorrow, remembering the departed) and wish you all a good, warm and safe winter.