Through the mist

Beaminster, from the top of the hill above Parnham House, is almost hidden in the mist or low cloud.  Mrs B's late father used to play as a child in the woods on the ridge beyond the tree on the left of the picture; we've many times tried to find his initials where he carved them.  

We had planned a walk along Beaminster Down, above the town to the north and just visible in this shot, but the cloud was thick as we drove over the Down so we elected to stroll towards Netherbury from Beaminster.

I wanted another look at the grave (Extra) of William Rhodes-Moorhouse, the first airman VC; this is at the top of the hill, up a steep avenue of old trees (must be hundreds of years old).  As we all know, today was the warmest New Years Eve on record and the breeze at the top of the hill was almost benign, soft and comforting.

It's always tempting to become maudlin near graves, particularly when the history is laid bare like this chap's, but at the bottom of the hill, on the path from Netherbury, we were diverted by the sight of a large family whose small children had been allowed to play in the muddy puddles along the way.  They were filthy!  But Mum and Dad, bless them, were quite sanguine:"the washing machine works overtime."  If only we had been as tolerant with our sons' jumping in muddy puddles . . .