BY LIBBY HYMAS

This year, winter’s crashing in with the force of a frosty sledgehammer.

We’ve already had Storm Angus rolling around the UK and rain falling down like spears, accompanied by wind trying to rip our windows open.

Winter is not always welcome- some people immediately think of frozen fingers and soggy gardens, but in my opinion, winter brings with its return an excuse for warming fires, hot water bottles, hot chocolate and, eventually, Christmas.

We are all dreaming of a white Christmas but unfortunately this is the UK, and all we’ll get is perhaps some browning sludge- if that.

And soon will come the harbour swim on Christmas Day.

Sacrificing the warmth, comfort and company of a cosy Christmas morning with friends and family, our brave fundraisers will take the plunge in to the icy, cold depths of Weymouth Harbour, raising as much money as is physically possible.

So, when winter melts like a block of ice we will all, most likely, wave goodbye cheerfully- but when winter returns a sticky summer later, we might think ‘ooh. Time for hot water bottles.’