A cold winter's day.....

I don't make New Year resolutions as I never keep them. However I have decided I need to get outdoors more and get a bit more gentle exercise. I'm not robust enough for a full exercise programme and would hate it anyway! But I'm hoping to try and do a daily wander to the beach during winter (weather permitting) and a bit on the treadmill if I can't stand up in a howling gale outside!

So today I put on my "duvet" coat, hat, gloves, scarf, warm boots and headed off to the sandy beach with Button (of course). Now Button loves a walk with me and is, in fact, often the first to suggest it. So she was quite eager to go out when she saw me putting on my boots (maybe she's a reincarnated dog?).  We strode out across the grass in front of the house and into the garden.  Then a gust of wind shook us both.  Button retreated rapidly behind the shelter of the dyke (wall).  Baleful eyes followed me...... I was undeterred and headed for the beach.  Eventually she followed (she's a cat - curiosity and all that!). But she kept up a dialogue the ENTIRE walk.  It probably went something like "What the HELL do you think you are doing? Are you completely NUTS human - it's COLD out here. Turn round NOW!"  We were only out for about 20 minutes - I suspect she had a sore throat by the time we got home!

Anyway - the camera really captured the blue light of winter. I do love being by the shore whatever the weather and after the first shock of cold wind it was quite - um - bracing.  Eventually I was able to hunker down in the sand dunes out of the worst of the breeze and it was almost - well - pleasant!

Button, scampering down the sand dunes

Brrr looks cold doesn't it?!  Though it was probably about 6 degrees C/44F.

I love the patterns on the sand made by the stream from water off the fields.... it's like a beautiful piece of art.

Seaweed strewn along the shore....

There are various methods used to try and slow down the coastal erosion of the "links" (dunes), but the sea just goes round behind them....

And then back home - the sea is calm..... may that last a while!

And we get nearly 30 minutes more daylight than on the shortest day!! Whoo hoo!!!