On the 3rd a sunny start to the month led to some lovely sightings of a pair of Robins at the bird bath.
13.12.25
The earliest sunset of the year happens quite a few days before the winter solstice, which occurs on 21st December. This is because the moming sunrise continues to draw in even after the evening sunsets start to get later again. On 13th daylength is 7:40:29 and on 21st it is 7:36:42. By the 31st over a minute is gained each day and daylength is 7:42:18 (+1:03) as the latest sunrise is 29th/30th. Source: timeanddate.com
The definition of "Solstice" comes from sol for sun (latin) and sistere meaning to stand still.
It is the moment the sup appears to stand still, directly above the tropic of Capricorn, the most southerly latitude it reaches each year. This is because the earth is titted by 23.5° on its axis. Solstice dates vary because it does not take an exact year to revolve around the sun but c. 365.24 days. It slips by c. 6 hours each year then reverts after corrective leap years. Orbit variations and a wobble on its axis caused by its rotation also impact the precise timing of solstice.