Sweden is a very dark place in December, even here in Eskilstuna (although this is nothing compared to how it is in Kiruna right now). You can really feel it when you go up in the mornings; even at 10 am, there light is dim and you need to turn on the lights inside and drink an extra cup of warm coffee in order to wake up.

Today, December 2, is exactly 18 days before the winter solstice occurs; a day I’m always looking forward to during this time of the year. Because on December 20, I can finally, once again, say: “Nu går vi mot ljusare tider!”

Or as Patrick Finch‘s great grandmother used to say:

We shalln’t see the days so short any more.