Day One Hundred and Ninety-eight

Feest Isolation Days – 28 September

The weather has been totally glorious in England!  Cold and a bit windy but sitting in the sun with a warm layer or two on is golden.  The trees are turning and Autumn has officially arrived. Twice. It arrived on the 1st of September if you are a meteorologist, and if you’re an astronomer, it arrived on the 22nd  September.

Both have valid claims to be marked as the first day of the new season. Meteorologically, the seasons are based on the Gregorian Calendar which makes it easier for the forecasters to observe and compare seasons and monthly statistics. 

The first day of Autumn to these folks is always the same each year…the first of September.  It’s simple if you follow the calendar.  Spring is March April and May, Summer – June July August, Autumn – September October and November and Winter – December January and February. 

However, for the astronomical calculations, the seasons are defined in a different way.  The first date of the new season is defined by the Earth’s axis and orbit around the sun.  This Autumn date is determined by the 23.5 degrees of tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis in relation to its orbit around the sun. Both the equinoxes and solstices are related to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. 

So officially, both of these dates are accurate.  Now we know! This year winter arrives on the 21st of December.


For years I have had this argument with my husband about when the start of the season was. I never looked it up before.  After all these years, it’s good to know we are both right.

We have a magnet in our kitchen on our bread maker (the fridge doesn’t have a metal door) that says…”You can agree with me or you can be wrong”  Not that there has ever been a problem with sticking to what we each thought and arguing it out in this household.  It’s no fun when we can’t get to an agreement, and hours have been spent in setting out one case or another over the years.  It is a total delight when we can both be right!   (but I never argue, I just explain why I am right – ed)

Sometimes, being right is important.  Other times it doesn’t matter.  Pick your battles.  Boris and his MPs are heading for a show down.  I like Kier’s style.  Now there is a man who knows how to do battle!  Let’s see what happens over the next while.  Boris is in for a bruising it would seem.

Time to head out into the glorious golden day and forget about everything for a moment or two and take in the fresh air and the sunshine. 

Sanitiser, check.  Masks, check.  Ah the new normal!

See you soon.  Enjoy!

With love

Kathy x