Winter chill

I am back in the working groove (I am much a little too old for this): meetings; phone calls; web searches; interpretations of ITTs (Invitations to Tender); conversations about how to balance budgets against methods; and the slog of writing it all down.  I should be pleased to have the opportunity to tender and I am, I am truly grateful and I do enjoy it in a masochistic kind of way, but it means I don't get outdoors very much. We did take time out this morning to go next door and visit our very recently widowed neighbour.  She is a lovely and spirited 87 year old and I enjoyed spending an hour in her company. These seed pods are the only thing in the garden showing any kind of colour.