David WE Roberts wrote:
As I understand it after the darkest day the days start to get lighter
and we can look forward eventually to Spring and Summer and lovely sunny
weather.

Can't wait.

It's not just gloomy and dark. It's flippon' cold. Here in the SE the
temp today at 13.00 was 11³C, and is forecast to fall tonight to 5³C.
That's like early March. Too cold for my outdoor tomatoes.