FROSTY, MAGICAL MORNING!

Today I had the pleasure of Belinda's company for a walk.  There was a particularly heavy frost, turning the ground white and the pavements sparkling, as though they were encrusted with diamonds!  The sun came up, casting a golden glow over the browns of the skeletal trees and hedgerows, which gave a satisfying contrast to the ice and frosted ground...

There is something about an early morning walk, especially this time of year, that is magical.  It may be hard to prise myself out of a lovely warm bed, but the results are so worth it!  I keep reading articles on how walking and connecting to nature is so good for your mental health and I have found this to be true.  Not only is it physical exercise in the fresh air, but when you have an interesting companion, the talking is very therapeutic... 
  

We walked up towards Windsor Hill, away from the town into the surrounding countryside.  We saw a field full of woolly sheep and these two delightful highland cattle (see above right), who had no trouble keeping warm with their long, dense, hairy coats!

On my way home, I walked through the park and took time out to look at the pond, which was half iced over.  Instead of all the usual ducks - they must have been sheltering in the park, there were many seagulls, miles away from the sea, who looked confused by this frozen water!