Reflections of a stormy petrel

And I am awake because of the heat. Anyone who told me that London in the last days of December would have been hotter than Rome and hotter than it had ever been at the height of summer would have got a blank stare and a dismissive "well, maybe".
EDITED IN: Well, of course, I was awake, but not exactly in top form. Who'd expect me? otherwise I'd not have taken September for December.

Say, what is that astoundingly bright round thing in the sky this morning? I think I've seen it before, but it must have been a long time ago.