It is an annual occurrence in the UK that our clocks go back at 2 a.m. on the morning of the last Sunday in October, marking the end of summer and the start of winter, as we switch from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Fortunately, this change lasts for only five months of the 12-month year.
The idea of changing the clocks in Britain was first proposed by William Willett, a builder, in his pamphlet titled The Waste of Daylight in 1902. Willett, an avid horse rider, came up with the idea one early summer morning while out riding. He noticed a great many drawn curtains, indicating people were still asleep despite the daylight.Although his suggestion was not adopted at the time, it eventually came to fruition. Interestingly, Willett’s great-great-grandson is Chris Martin, the singer of Coldplay.
As reported by North Wales Live, “As the UK approaches the winter solstice, sunrises occur later, and daily sunlight decreases. In December, the sun will rise as late as 8:06 a.m., and most of the month will see London experiencing fewer than eight hours of daylight.”
Greenwich Mean Time was the default legal time used in Britain before Daylight Saving Time was introduced in 1916. The Summer Time Act of 1916 stated that from spring to autumn, legal time would be an hour ahead of GMT. The act was adopted during the First World War when the country needed to make use of as much daylight as possible to conserve coal. When the clocks go back, the country returns to the default time zone established in 1880.
In recent days, we have been experiencing unusually warm weather for this time of year – halcyon days. When someone remarked that they had never heard the word "halcyon" used before, I decided to do a little research. It is described as “denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.” There are many other definitions, all positive.
Of Greek origin, the word "halcyon" comes from a story in Greek mythology about the halcyon bird, the kingfisher, which had the power to calm the rough ocean waves every December so she could nest. Like those calm waters, "halcyon" has come to mean a sense of peace or tranquillity.
The picture below is one of the side images in my 2025 calendar.
Kingfisher © Sue Crow
With more positive thoughts running through my mind, I have been marvelling at the magnificence of nature and the wonders it can produce. This has been a blessed time, with nature at its most spectacular – a time when the heavens have been displaying an array of the most wonderful examples of impressionist art.
© Sonya Julia
© Sonya Julia
Not only are the skies showcasing their wonders, but the earth has its own palette of colours, too. We are witnessing a magical display, a kaleidoscope of colours, as the leaves put on their finest – reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and silvers. As I was walking this week, an acer tree caught my eye and provided me with its abundance of reds and purples.
Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' Tree (Japanese Maple)
It might surprise you to know that the pictures were all taken of the same tree, and the variation in colours was due to the change in light as I moved my position.
I have been meaning to visit Warnford Church in Hampshire with my sister, Amanda. It was supposed to be her birthday treat back in September, but sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned! I feel sure we will get there very soon, and then I will be able to tell you all about it. The church is ancient, dating mainly from the 1190s, with an earlier tower and Saxon roots.
