Discworld

Kent estuary, Cumbria - the view towards Foulshaw

A bit of a boring blip. The only blue sky was first thing today as I was driving to work and I stopped to take my fallback photos of the Kent estuary looking across to Foulshaw and the low fells of the Lake District. I didn't get out of work at lunchtime, and there were no miraculous sunsets on the way home this evening. If you want to see the sky that followed the golden glow of last night's sunset, see link.

It occurred to me the other day - being a bit slow on the uptake - how much this view will change in the next year or two. There is a long strip of even-aged, even-sized conifers in this shot that is growing on the edge of Foulshaw Moss, the huge raised bog now managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. They have already cleared most of the trees to allow restoration of the bog, these fringing ones are the last ones to go and the Felling Licence has just been granted to take them out.

Thank you for all the lovely comments and supportive words that were written in response to yesterday's blip. The kindness of strangers - the essence of humanity.

Today the relief for most people was palpable, the atmosphere was lighter, the humour freer-flowing and less black. There have been two casualties amongst the Cumbria staff, and any sense of celebration is muted because of our concern for them.

As I write this I'm listening to the Icelandic Sigur Ros playing Takk. It seemed appropriate. We saw them in Blackpool a few years ago, an unforgettable and uplifting experience. Try the link. Better still get hold of the Heima DVD of them playing impromptu concerts in rural Iceland.