Early one morning...

For the last 12 years of my working life, I was regularly up at 6am to be in the office before 8. I often used to imagine those early morning walks I'd take once I retired... though I knew at heart I was a night owl rather than a lark. Now happily in retirement, I've been somewhat surprised to find I'm one of those people who doesn't really get going until about 10am. Morning walks haven't featured very much! So, when the forecast was for a heavy frost overnight, I was quite proud of myself that I put the alarm on and heaved myself out of bed and into the chill. I walked in somewhat of a daze, it has to be said, but it was still pleasant to find myself out there for once with the early commuters, joggers and dog walkers.

In the event the frost in this fairly urban neighbourhood wasn't as heavy as I'd anticipated and the sunrise was unspectacular. I still enjoyed the subtle colours and the way the low sun caught the tops of the trees, many still clinging on to their autumn leaves, though it was mid-November. The frost meant the leaves were tumbling down all around me, making soft sounds like gentle rain.

Across the fields, the lodge that once guarded the entrance gates to Titus Salt Jnr's Milner Field mansion positively glowed in the sunshine. The geese, roosting on the field, seemed as dazed as I was at that early hour.

I was a little disappointed that the sun wasn't yet high enough to make magic along the river, and there was only a faint haze of mist on the water. Surprisingly, there were three rowers out from the rowing club, getting their morning exercise, all clad in neon yellow life vests. That wasn't especially what I wanted in my photos and I had to be careful to time my shots to avoid them!

Where the sun was yet to penetrate, the frost rimed the fallen leaves.

It was a worthwhile endeavour; gratifying to come home to a warm house, decent coffee and my bowl of porridge - and with the smug satisfaction of having already clocked my target steps for the day!