Frosty winter, December 2007

Four days of perfect weather culminated on the winter solstice, giving the impression that Manchester is not so dark after all. Each day we were greeted with bright blue in the sky and bright white on all surfaces as plunging temperatures created a permanent frost. The ground in Stamford Park was frozen solid and even the canals in the city had frozen over. On the solstice the temperature fell to minus 6 degrees Celsius which frosted white all the roofs on the houses which sparkled in the moonlight of the early morning. Even the leaves on the trees were dusted in icicles, remaining all day until they melded with the silvery grey sky of the late afternoon sun. There was not one breath of wind, just wintery stillness.