Country Diary

The days are lengthening — though, as we have not seen the sun for a week, it doesn’t seem to make much difference under murky winter cloud. Skeins of geese are buffeted across the skies, strangely silent unless you happen to be downwind of them, and even the dogs are uncharacteristically reluctant to venture outdoors.

Still, there is hope. I have a simple winter algorithm that keeps my spirits up. I