The traverse of the sun between north and south can be tracked as it lights up various parts of the house through the year, notably at sunset when it is level with the windows as it sinks into the sea on a cloudless day. For a few days in autumn and spring, the sun's rays shine directly down the passage and through the crack between the bathroom door and jamb, allowing the setting sun to illuminate the bathroom wall for a brief moment in time.
On either side of this 'window', the direct sunlight moves left or right, reflecting off various mirrors on its journey and flooding the rooms with a bonus of golden light. For a few weeks in midsummer, the rooms on the south side brighten at dawn and dusk, while the hot midday sun passes directly overhead, keeping the rooms cool. In winter, the north-facing rooms are warmed by the sun as it passes at a low angle, and it gets so warm that washing can be dried in a few hours on the glassed-in balcony, very useful for keeping the electricity bill down.
At the moment the glare from the sea, which can be seen through a small gap in the milkwood trees lining the bay, is lighting up the kitchen.
I find it fascinating to observe the passing of the seasons via this internal sundial, and it serves to remind me that we should be making more use of the energy so freely available - we are after all living on a planet which is solar powered, the growth of our food is solar powered and our very existence is dependent on the distance we are from our star.
Why are we burning fuels that cannot be replaced? I'm sure many of you will know the answer to that one.
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