Greetings everyone on this most exceedingly beautiful morning, a morning on which, if I had the voice I would let loose with song. It’s hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago I would have been sat here writing this in the wintery dark. Now, although it is still kind of dim out there, but I can see the golden glow of Apollo’s fiery chariot waiting in the wings, about to make its entrance. Winter my friends is in retreat.

I can’t believe this is to be my first post of 2009. I’ve be meaning to get round to adding to my blog for ages, but you know how things are. Events overtake you and all your good intentions are lost. So all you people out there in cyberspace – a happy 2009 to you .

Sometimes those of us called scrooges are not really like the Scrooge from the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. Dickens described Ebenezer Scrooge as tight-fisted and the story emphasizes his steadfast refusal to help the poor. Scrooge was filthy rich and he was proud of the fact that he would not share the tiniest portion of his wealth with those in need.

The snow which lay over Alledal has now gone, though the forecasters predict more arriving tomorrow. It does make me sort of excited in a child like way. I’ve just been out to Höör and I’ve seen snow ploughs and gritters moving out on the roads, so it likes like we’re in for more than a dusting. It seems fitting somehow for it to be snowing in December.

Today would have been Matthew Sheppard’s birthday. He would have been 31. In the last few days I’ve found a tribute to Matthew that is breathtakingly touching. It’s by a Dutch band – A Balladeer, and called Poster Child. In the ten years since Matthew’s tragic murder I’ve heard and read hundreds of tributes to him and this has to be right up there with the very best.

Today winter has arrived. The warm colours of autumn that were draped across the landscape only a few weeks ago have been replaced with the browns, greys, and tans of the winter landscape. Evergreens, out dressed most of the year by more flamboyant vegetation, feed eyes hungry for colour.