First foray - frosty

Its time for me to take a walk outside - a short walk, over the river to have a cup of tea with a friend - without the boot!

The foot doesn't seem to ache too much and the swelling has gone down, though I shall probably always have a small bump at the fracture site. Even after six weeks the bruising is still there, it fell like blue ink down my instep and makes an interesting shape where it puddled at the base of my toes.

It was a lovely bright day but by mid-afternoon the sun is slanting low through the leafless trees.

The overnight frosts have been hard during the last few weeks, and while the setting sun hits the church in a golden glow, the meadows are still white and hard with frost where they have been shadowed by the woods. Those evergreen trees mark the river's course.

My friends' cheeful house name has ice frosted ivy leaves.

And holly leaves are perfectly outlined, but the birds have long since eaten all the berries.

By the time I leave, after tea and a piece of Christmas cake in front of the log fire, the sun has long gone, and the mist is rising over the river and the meadows in the valley.

Walking along the river, the outline of the hill is framed by the alders on the bank.

The lovely moon keeps me company, gliding along silently, lighting my way back home.