The American journalist Mignon McLaughlin wrote, "Spring, summer and fall fill us with hope; winter alone reminds us of the human condition". Wise words, though with a name like 'Mignon' you would expect her to have such thoughts.

(As an aside, what right thinking parent names their daughter 'Mignon', and reckon it works quite well with 'McLaughlin'? Presumably steak was quite popular at the dinner table).

Winter descended on Muroran last night, in all it cold, imperial, Siberian haute glory. Cold morning, cold day, colder night as I write this. We are due to have snow on and off for the rest of this week and early into the next.

And it's only November 16th. Going to make for a long winter this year...