Expect the unexpected

The forecast was for heavy rain in the afternoon, but as we watched Ireland playing England under blue skies in Dublin, it was snowing heavily outside.  Then as the match finished, the sky cleared and the sun came out.  We headed up Arnside Knott as a rapid thaw set in.  As we reached the top, a thick mist descended mysteriously from nowhere.

Then as I approached the cattle browsed yew tree, a pied fox crossed in front of me.  In the monochromal snowy landscape, pied foxes are much more camouflaged than their red cousins. This one only gave himself away through his movement across the path.

I climbed back to the top of the hill hoping for a window in the fog.  Then I met two lads wandering about in the cloud forest.  You wouldn't expect to get lost on a small hill with 360 degree views.  But in the dripping woods, they didn't know which way to go to get back to their car, and there was just a tinge of panic as darkness was falling.

Another weekend over, two months into the year, I need a day off, but this week looks as busy as any, and I still have work to do for a meeting tomorrow.