Falling Backwards

TS Elliot was forgetting something when he described April as the cruelest month. Over the last few weeks, daylight hours seem to have shrunk quickly in ten-minute chunks, day after day, since October began.
Oh well. I think we tend to underestimate the importance of sunshine in our lives. It's not only important for Vitamin D, and the superficial glow of a tan, but for a whole range of hormonal reactions. Sunshine in the eye is very important for energy, for morale and optimism. In its absence, so many of us Northern Europeans get Seasonal Affective Disorder, once the clocks go back and the sun clocks off at 4.30pm, over the winter months. It's a big part of the reason for the miserable attitude that we have in this country.
But there's no reason to be gloomy. I've just picked up an interesting book on coping with the phenomenon. There are lots of obvious tips, including sun beds, savouring August (will remember for next year), a daily hour outdoors (rain or shine), exercise, good food, and tropical January holidays. I'll see what other genius insights they might provide, but in the meantime i'll maintain my membership of the "Movement to move Britain to the Caribbean" facebook group.