Category Archives: winter

74. God Jul – from Copenhagen to Crawley

god-jul-christmas-in-copenhagen.jpgIt was a cold and wet December day
When we touched the ground in fair DK

Denmark, like a Christmas tree
Tonight this city belongs to me
After ‘Angel of Harlem’ (‘Rattle and Hum’, Island Records – October 1988)

Another week, another city. The traveller’s laments may be eternal, but so often they are rewarded by a fresh viewpoint on the world.

It’s a short flight across the North Sea, and yet remarkably it deposits us from grey old Gatwick into the floodlit swirl of a million scattered snowflakes illuminated by our approach beam. Even in the airport there is that quintessential flavour of Denmark – warmth, light, sophisticated simplicity, and a sleek array of thinly sculpted, contemporary wooden furniture.
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73. A rainjacket by any other name …

… could make a welcome Christmas gift. But the arrival through the post at last on Saturday, of a consolation London Marathon rainjacket provides the unwelcome confirmation that I don’t have a ballot place in next year’s event.

That, and the yellow writing plastered all over the magazine packed inside. Just in case I was in any doubt.

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72. Vienna

vienna-hofburg-palace-and-dom.jpgWalked in the cold air
Freezing breath on a window pane
Lying and waiting
A man in the dark in a picture frame
So mystic and soulful

The warmth of your hand
And a cold grey sky
It fades to the distance

The feeling has gone only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna
Ultravox – July 1980

Central Europe. December. It’s a long time since I’ve been here, and the feeling has eluded me recently, but perhaps it’s never quite gone away.
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13. A winter night’s fartlek – Guildford town and track

Best run of the week was my evening 6 miler on Sunday. I couldn’t face my usual dark lanes, so instead used the opportunity to explore some of the well-lit town streets. I haven’t done this for a while but the enforced navigation stops and traffic light breaks make for an enjoyable sort of fartlek.

Eventually made it down to Guildford Spectrum running track, where Roger Black used to train. He is the British athlete who always finished second to Michael Johnson in the Olympic 400 m.

There were puddles on the track and no floodlights but the springy surface makes for smooth pace running. Four 2:10 laps made an 8:40 mile. Quick breather then a hard single lap in tribute to Roger before heading homewards up the hill for a Sunday dinner of tortillas, refried beans and guacamole.

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Related articles:
40. Running with Roger Black
111. The plan
141. A winter sky and green and blue – Hyde Park, London
83. Seven Bridges Road – the Wey floodplain
34. Lines from the Battle of Guildford
55. A redemption in Manchester

11. London Snow by Robert Bridges

In pictures: Snow in the capital
There was a rare sight in London on Wednesday as the city disappeared under a blanket of snow (pictures ©BBC).
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LONDON SNOW
by Robert Seymour Bridges

When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town; Continue reading