Shadows

We are approaching the shortest day of the year, and the nadir of the sun's annual journey in the northern hemisphere. On the brighter days, like today, in the drumlin landscape between the Helm and Clawthorpe Fell, the trees and hedges cast long shadows. The fell pony stayed still long enough next to the dead solitary tree for me to take a few photographs with the misty landscape backdrop. In the grassland on this side of the Helm, there are many wintering meadow pipits that rise seeping when disturbed. And a winter's day it was too, the harshest frost so far this end of the year, a frost that lay all day on the north facing slopes of the hill.

It was too busy a day at work today, but there was time to escape at lunchtime for Gus's walk over the Helm. Christmas is getting close, and everyone is trying to fit in meetings and meet deadlines before the break.