My thermometer says that the outside temperature at the moment - 11.30am - is minus 4 centigrade. Goodness knows what it got down to last night. There are minutely small flakes of snow falling. They descend with a slow grace, like little fairies, then melt as soon as they reach the wet ground. The way that they disappear seems a kind of magic. My cup of jasmin tea warms my hands. I stand and gaze at the natural world. The cold imparts a vigour to my lungs, making me sing out. You can be as loud as you like here - there is nobody to disturb in this great solitude, nothing to be embarrassed about. The lungs enjoy emitting a full cry and the frigid air makes the whole body want to dance. Cold imparts courage. In the modern world people hide in bubbles of central heating, exhausting the fuel supplies of the planet and some never get the chance to experience the cleansing effect of real cold. I'm getting my fill of the charms of Jack Frost while he is on his annual visit. Later in the year things will be at the opposite extreme and I'm sure we appreciate each the more for remembering the other.
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Yes, carrots for rabbits. Definitely.