the winter continues (great stagnation)

'crystal clear weather for a while, a joyful feeling upon seeing the sun, everywhere steam: steam from the aube as if it were boiling, steam from the fields. when I look up to the sky while walking, without realizing I walk on a curve toward the north. right after the aube, the steam from a field was so thick and so low above the ground that I waded through it shoulder-high. viewed far and wide, the land is almost flat. a mangy woman chases a mangy dog out of the house. oh, my god, how I am cold...' 

- werner herzog, of walking in ice, 10th december 1974.

'I go through periods of great stagnation...' 

- fernando pessoa, the book of disquiet, fragments 67 (66), 10th december 1930

oh dear horsemouth lost his temper again 

his mother, aunt and uncle have departed to attempt to keep the ancestors grave clean in a rainstorm. horsemouth does not think this is entirely wise (but it will certainly be an adventure). 

because he had lost his temper he didn't think to propose that today was maybe not the day for it. he supposes that people will come to this conclusion at some point. if they are cut off by flood water they are in a car and  there are hotels etc. (they have money). 

ah they've made it back

here in the wilds of herefordshire  it has been predicted that after the storms of the 9th the 10th will be sunny.  (so far horsemouth is not observing this)

but when it comes this will (doubtless) cheer horsemouth up. the rainy weather and dark nights make him feel a bit trapped. peak darkness is on or round about the 21st of december (the winter solstice) thereafter (long dark tunnel) there is movement back up towards the light. 

before that there's his brother's daughter's graduation. after it is the festival that shall not be named and  a visit from his brother's family. 

and then the winter continues (and indeed intensifies). 

does horsemouth sneak away from social gatherings to write? yes he does. 

and in the new year

come may horsemouth predicts political carnage as both labour and the conservatives watch their electoral base evapourate. horsemouth is unclear what the effect of PR will be across the border in wales. this means reform (assuming that they have not all been outed as racists and soviet agents by then, assuming anyone even cares) will not be denied their share of the vote. 

does horsemouth predict an early election? 

no he does not. the only viable labour strategy is to cling on and hope things get better (the sunak prevarication).