From The Manse Window

From the manse window

OUR daughter met her husband-to-be in York.

Her home was north of that fine city. His home was several hundred miles to the south.

Much as he loved York, the long nights of a British winter had a definite effect on him. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing and people find many ways of dealing with it.

Hilary posted a photo of the sunrise on social media. The sun reflected off both the sea and the low-hanging clouds, giving the whole scene a golden sheen.

I asked if she had been “loony dookin’” again. It’s the name of a tradition in the east of Scotland where people run into the sea, sometimes in fancy dress, on New Year’s Day.

She confessed she had, but less frivolously than that. She finds that cold water immersion has big benefits for her wellbeing.

“Plus, you saw a glorious sunrise!” I added.

Amy is working on her “daylight hours”. At a time when it would be easy to stay indoors, it lifts her mood to spend as many hours as possible outside.

We went for a walk, with her ten-month-old son in his buggy, around a country park I only usually visit in summer. Baby Oran sang happily to himself most of the way.

Because I wanted to show her a treetop bird-watching platform, I suggested we go down a particular path.

“No,” Amy said, “it looks too muddy.”

She was right. It was too muddy! But trying to stay upright and pulling the buggy backwards actually added to the fun.

There was something special about that walk. We both agreed the park had a glory in winter we wouldn’t have seen had we stayed home.

When she posted her (beautiful) pictures on Facebook later, they were all from the path she hadn’t wanted to take.

I don’t want to join Hilary on her sandy path into the cold sea.

And yet, part of me does, because I see how it fills her with joy!

Just as Amy and I came out of the muddy way invigorated!

I’m not suggesting we need to get muddy or wet, but maybe we are too conditioned to hiding away all winter.

It’s a real blessing to have a warm home, electricity for a cuppa and a television for distraction, but the outside world is no less a wonderful place in winter than in summer.

Every once in a while, lift your spirits by doing something you wouldn’t normally do.

Take a path you wouldn’t normally take. Look for the delights you wouldn’t normally see.

Because our daughter and son-in-law settled in the States, my sweetheart and I now take a path we wouldn’t normally.

To Pennsylvania, where we see two delights we wouldn’t see if we stayed at home.

One’s seven and one’s five. And they are well worth the change in our routine. ■