As a blow-in from the balmy south I’m often asked, "Do you really like Sweden?"I answer, "Of course, I love it here," but also add, "except for the long winters."It’s not the cold in winter that bothers me - I’d even say I rather like it. There’s nothing quite like opening your front door on a freezing Scandinavian winter’s day and feeling the cosy warmth inside hit you and envelope your body. That’s fine.
No, what I really can’t stand is the scarcity of light during the northern winter. Especially in December and January, when there are really only three or four hours of sunshine a day – and that’s if there’s any sun! More common are grey, gloomy mornings where the light of day soon surrenders to the dark of evening. I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds the lack of light a little depressing. It’s at times like these that I take comfort Shelley's lines. "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
Depending on whom you talk to, February is the last month of winter or the first month of spring. But whatever you call it there’s no doubt that the hours of daylight gradually increase, and nightfall is grudgingly pushed back later and later. First 3pm, then 4pm and even 5pm! Cautiously, but hopefully, my heart begins to look forward to spring.
The other irritations of winter – icy roads that thaw and freeze again making driving, walking and, particularly cycling, so perilous may be with us for some time. So too the sudden unexpected snowfalls that remind us that a north European winter is not truly over until May. But all this can be overcome with the optimistic thought that by February, spring is just around the corner.
