Several feet of snow still on the ground in New Hampshire? The English winter is surely much maligned – we’re onto forsythia and hyacinths and early cherry blossom now.

In central London on Friday I even saw a magnolia just about to burst forth into flower.

Everything is fantastically early again this year. But it’s the advancing light that makes the most difference – it really is.

The crocus, however, has me mighty envious. I probably won’t see any in New Hampshire till May, not with several feet of snow on the ground. The lengthening days are a promise, though.

Just a week or two of winter each year would be enough for me, Nichole, preferably somewhere with snow. It used to snow in southern England every winter, but the white stuff is increasingly rare these days. We do much more of the wet stuff instead…

Not very long.

The mighty peaks of Epsom make for fine running, too, although on a generally more suburban scale than your Sussex friends.

The views of London from the racecourse are a sight to behold. Even if my head is firmly down by the time I’ve flogged my way up there.

Hills, even beautiful hills, are hard work for a flatlander like me.

We’ve had some rare old winter mornings down here in Sussex old friend. The sort that coax you out the door in the half-light, lead you Piper-style into the humps and hollows of the Downs, ignorant of cold, to embrace the rising sun.

Makes you glad to be alive : )

I had a close look at the Tideway running routes yesterday whilst walking across Putney Bridge on my way to Craven Cottage to watch the Hammers thrash Fulham. (Well, actually it was 1-0, with a slightly dodgy goal off the elbow of Norbert Solano after 85 minutes, but they all count).

I’m not a big fan of running uphill. It’s strictly a potential energy problem for me. Too much mass involved.

The area around Grenoble is surely one of the most beautiful on Earth.

But would I rather spend February awaiting almond blossom in the early spring of Provence, or endure snowy horizons and chill days for another three months or more in Savoie?

Now then – I suspect we agree on that choice entirely.

I loved the climate in Switzerland when I was there. A proper winter, with snow and ski-ing, and a warm and reliable summer, too.

And whilst it never gets as cold here, the raw damp chill often makes it feel colder.

But although winter is not my favourite season, I couldn’t live without any seasons at all.

And one of the things which so heightens the pleasure of our long summer days in Britain is all those desperately short grey twilights which masquerade as the winter days before them.