Winter Solstice 2011.

[Jack Williams]

'Tis the Winter Solstice here again, so I got out there again on the little deck after a beautiful sunny day, for the traditional Jack "Solstice Sunset" photos. Here are a couple.
That was actually a sort of an oasis day on Tuesday, amid the ocean of rain before, and also since!

[Jack Williams]

As a comparison, here is last years!

[Kirbstone]

We've been having a spell of mostly foul low-pressure weather lately, and on Monday 20th we happened to pass by Stonehenge in the afternoon, where there was a considerable Police presence and a lot of 'druids' and Solstice followers assembled ready for the celebrations on Tuesday morning. ( We were visiting the UK).
Alas it dawned grey and overcast, so no one got a nice photo like you did, Jack. I expect your weather on North Island is on average much better than ours.

Tom K.

[Jack Williams]

Yes I believe the summer solstice at Stonehenge is a traditional hippie occasion, and it is also traditional for the cops to hassle (a word invented by hippies!) the hippies, so a suitable solstice celebration all round!
It has been really overcast and rainy here for many weeks, so it was a perfect fluke that it came out a spot-on sunny day on the Tuesday. The storm clouds are really gathering in that shot, much more dramatic than the bucolic last year's one.

[DALederle]

Funny! I just went through the summer solstice four days ago. How are you going through a winter solstice?
No, don't answer, I'm just teasing.
Beautiful pictures. You have a good eye!
Just blow some warmth my way next December when we are holed up and freezing in Chicago!
What are your Christmas' like. In the movie Babe they shot off fireworks to celebrate Christmas. I thought the was a novel way to celebrate.
Of course, the crazies here shoot off fire works for New Years too!

Dennis A. Lederle
Live Long and Perspire!

[Since1982]

That's a beautiful picture, Jack, was that taken at Dusk or Dawn?

[Jack Williams]

We shoot of fireworks here for Guy Falkes day, the 5th of November. We only have three days to buy them! I usually save some over for New Year's too. Always get ones that go up really high, but we're not allowed skyrockets any more. Government treats us like children. Aussies aren't allowed to buy them at all though!

[Jack Williams]

That's a beautiful picture, Jack, was that taken at Dusk or Dawn?

Those were taken at sunset. This time of year is when I can see a nice sunset from my little landing deck. Then the sunset moves gradually along the horizon until it goes behind those trees to the left of the picture.

[Jack Williams]

I do enjoy this time of year.

[Kirbstone]

Now that's a lovely homely picture, Jack, and not a skirt or dress in sight. I see by the big blue log basket on the left that you'll not be letting that roaring fire go out anytime soon.

Our climate here up 53+ degrees North makes us sometimes light up such a fire even on cool Summer evenings!

Tom K.

[Jack Williams]

Not sure what happened to 2012, but here is 2013!

[crfriend]

Jack, thanks for posting that. It coincides with our Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice and provides a nice counterpoint. That, and it's a beautiful shot -- well done!

[Jack Williams]

Here's a bigger go at this sunset shot:

[Jack Williams]

I have an idea this in fact 2012!
...not so, another take on the above.

[Kirbstone]

Lovely panoramic sky, Jack. We have just enjoyed our first real Summer here for a great many years and it's not over yet, although I now notice an encroaching shortening of the very long evenings we get at this latitude.

From the beginning of August onward this daily shortening accelerates as the ol' Orb slopes downwards on it's sine-curve, so your early Spring should kick-start soon. It won't be long now till most of the populace here will be thinking of moving South !

T.