Friday 21st December 2001 8.51am
Winter Solstice: the shortest day, grey and overcast, almost facing up to the first light and sending it back away. There is a strong northwest wind whistling across the Island and over the Channel, and the gulls ride on and against it, high in the air surfing up its sides, looking graceful and glad to have their cold strong friend back. On the water lines of wind move across the surface of the Channel, which is drained and at low tide.