A flock of sheep are stock-still on the beach, heads raised, horns alert. A curlew, a blackbird, and a gull are busily rearranging the seaweed; they appear to be squabbling. Three oystercatchers are hurrying somewhere. A heron, like a predatory medieval cleric (can’t explain that read more

Has it ever happened before? First footing nil. New Year’s dance nil. Watchnight service nil. Virus Three. Sadly they were germ-fests; we had to forgo them. Our second complete lockdown started on Boxing Day. We were already in Level 4, so it is not like read more

3 January 2021 The wonderful weather is continuing. Outside is the new inside, exercising the new slumping and slouching. Wherever we go, we meet folk loving the winter sun. And of course we rhapsodise to each other about how lucky we are to live in read more

We may be in Level Four and to all intents and purposes locked-down, but this day has started perfectly. No wind, the tide exactly right, only decorative clouds, and the sun fully lighting our world just after nine. Normally we would be starting a day read more