Today's solstice means the shortest night of the year and the peak is 22.34 GMT - so that must mean the shortest one for several years (not by much - this is the slow end of the pendulum, so the changes are tiny).
On top of that the full moon peaks around noon today so it won't be much older tonight.
If the sky clears it should be a really, really bright night - probably the brightest for many years (the solstice moves around 5hrs per year at this end of its progress to the 21st ).
SWMBO has been complaining about how late I've been back from the plot (despite the dodgy weather lately) - my latest finish (without any artificial light) was 10.15pm. I'd be happy to beat that if the weather allows...
Cheers.