The black dog


Well timed as we go down into the darkest part of the year, a black dog has appeared on Princes Street.  This is a difficult time.  Getting up in the morning is a struggle.  The sun rose today at 8.23 a.m., but on many days it's hard to tell that it has risen, muffled as we are under low grey clouds.  Sunset today was apparently at 3.45 p.m.  Since I was in the office, all I noticed was a gradual slide outside from grey to black. Unless you make an effort to get outside at lunchtime - and I normally work right through - daylight only returns at weekends. 

This particular black dog looks more benign than threatening - although perhaps with a certain mournful set of its head?  Judging by the muddy information plaque at its feet, children have been clambering up to cuddle and pat it.  A multi purpose dog, then.


Comments

  1. I haven't heard of this before but what a great idea to get people talking about mental health. These short days can be so depressing!

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  2. Yeah, it's dark and rainy here in Oregon too.....I go to work in the dark, and come home in the dark. Ugh.

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  3. What a great idea! I envy you those long summer evenings, which we don't get as far south as Colorado, but those winter "days" you put up with make up for it.

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  4. Fantastic idea! I glanced out of the window mid afternoon yesterday and it was already half way to dark, I thought then about folk further North - the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland are into tiny amounts of daylight now - no more than 6 hours per day in the darkest part of the winter. I look forward to seeing daylight at the weekend!

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  5. Do you have "happy" lights in Scotland? When my sister moved from sunny Southern California to rainy Oregon she bought a full spectrum light that she sits in front of for an hour or so each day. She'll do other things, like be on the computer while doing this.

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  6. How interesting, I hadn't heard of it. When I saw your post title, I thought maybe the post would be about Churchill, who I believe said he was haunted by the "black dog" of depression (unless I'm remembering wrong - quite possible!). I'm always so grateful for the Christmas season with its many lights in the darkness. At least we are past the shortest day when they all come down. It's January that I find the most challenging, because although you know the days are, in theory, lengthening, the return of the light seems to come ever so slowly.

    P.S. I wish you a few lunch breaks!

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