Give me blue skies and a bit of sun (and preferably some warmth), and I become hopeful, inspired, childishly optimistic. Take it away, and the grey arrives like a bureaucrat: quiet, persistent, and determined to put a lid on everything until my mind feels shrink-wrapped.

I suppose the dependency stems from growing up in sun-kissed Southern California, where sunshine isn’t a special occasion – it’s the default setting. Which means that a long Scandinavian stretch of overcast weather can sometimes feel like a whole season.

So today – yet another sunny Sunday – was perfect for a long walk along a frozen beach with cold air and sunlight bouncing off frozen waves. No miracles. No revelations. Just the simple luxury of sunshine and endless blue skies.