The dying of the light

This blip is for Eric, to whom we said our final goodbyes yesterday.   It's difficult to imagine a world without him in it.  He was still doing C's Qi Gong classes until a few weeks ago, with that ever-present cheeky grin and teasing humour.  He left us quickly, there was no protracted illness, so we should be grateful for that.  But he leaves a big hole in the lives of his family and many friends.  We'll miss him.

Today was a beautiful sunny winter's day that began with morning mists lying along the low ground.  I went for my four monthly blood letting session.  We stocked up with provisions for Christmas before next week's rush.  Gus had a better day today, walking much better than yesterday, his legs are quite weak now and his pads quite sensitive on gravelly ground.  But otherwise he is doing well.

As we approach the Winter Solstice, the sun is setting well before 4pm, and it took me by surprise as I got to Sandside just in time to see it dipping below the horizon.  Here's that fence with its flotsam to make a triptych of blips from opposite ends of the year.  The view is to Arnside and the viaduct over the Kent, the mist is rolling back in over the salt marsh.  No curlews flying by today.