Usually I find myself wanting to hibernate this time of year, but seem to have been out and about a lot recently taking in some fresh air, beautiful scenery and good walks.

I’m fortunate to live in both the South West and Up North - to-ing and fro-ing - enjoying the best of both worlds. The contrast is quite beautiful; the weather of course, the day lengths, the speed, the beautiful surroundings and those I keep company with - different family and friends.

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_Me and mum, 2nd January, 2025 in Scarborough._

My environment and home life centres around the River Avon in Bristol and this time of year, as the trees are bare, we can see more of the river with its strange tidal flow. When the tide further up the estuary turns, the river outside goes backwards, something which also turns the brain! After heavy rain, we see little islands of twigs and branches providing river taxis to various waterbirds floating by, the odd crocodile which always turns out to be a log after rumours of sightings, and watching the ducks swimming around under the bench on the tow-path never worries me anymore - having seen it regularly. We get the Severn Bore in Spring too - an amazing natural phenomenon where the tidal range is the 2nd highest in the world - it reaches right up to where we live!

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_Looking down at The River Avon, Bristol._

Filey, where mum lives, is by the sea. It’s freezing here as I write this. It certainly is colder up North. I take a day or two to adjust when I come up here and I’m supposed to be a tough Northerner! A few weeks ago, further up the coast, people were watching the aurora borealis ’Northern Lights’ reaching all the way down to us from the far north. The Yorkshire coastline is beautiful, wild and rugged, a sharp contrast to the gentle steady pace of the River Avon. The town is small and more manageable than Bristol, so I get out more on foot come rain or shine, as well as during sea frets blowing in off the North Sea - where temperatures drop even in Summer.

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_Watching the clouds forming as the cold air hits the warmer sea._

But these two beautiful, contrasting places are not in the extremes and are both equally home to me.

A Life of Contrasts.

We are well in to autumn now and this week I’m noticing the leaves beginning to fall. The days are becoming shorter.

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_My husband contemplating nature at Westonbirt Arboretum._

September and October have already seen many family and friends celebrating their birthdays and it seems to have been weeks of get-togethers and celebrations.

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_In September Mum was 80, I was 53 and my sister was 50._

Carry Forth Tradition