Sure there’s a grand stretch in the evenings, isn’t there?

SO THERE I was in the lift, wondering whether I should strike up a conversation with a middle aged businesswoman.

The other option was to stand there in dumb silence for the continuation of our cramped journey together.

I glanced at the buttons on the wall. We had ten floors to go. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

Spur of the moment decision: talk about the weather.

Why? Because this is what we do In Ireland isn’t it? It’s kind of fix-all solution for awkward moments — and one which foreigners just don’t get. Before I knew it, the words had jumped from my mouth. ‘Sure the weather’s not too bad today is it?’ I heard myself saying. It was like a scene from a movie and I was playing the part of friendly office worker — the starring role actually.

The businesswoman understood. Her expression changed from that of a determined corporate worker to an amicable, chatty comrade in an instant. ‘There is, thank God,’ she grinned, clearly relieved. ‘And isn’t there a grand stretch in the evenings?’

And there you had it. The reason why in the last couple of weeks we’ve all found ourselves that little bit happier. It’s hardly surprising given that in these gloomy January days there’s little to look forward. In fact it’s often a struggle to simply get out of bed in the morning.

It’s estimated that approximately half a million Irish people suffer from SAD — seasonal affective disorder. Caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus in the brain, SAD is due to the shortening of daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in winter.

The slight stretch in the evenings gives us hope — and we remember that winter will end eventually.