A walk this afternoon: briskly striding around the village with Cycloman. I want to be with him. On Monday I had news of a friend who died, leaving his wife and family and the sadness of it all is with me.
I see a red rose: in January, is this the last rose of 2011 or the first of 2012? The sun is already going down at about half past three and alters the colour of the photograph. There were three roses on this briar.
In my garden there are Christmas Roses (Helleborus) flowering. They have been flowering most of the year. I photographed this one from underneath
and this one
see the green-fly? Something strange going on? Is it global warming?
And last, but not least a little snap of Pippi in playful mood, chasing imaginary prey on the stairs. She has gained weight by more than 25% in four weeks according to the vet. Her eyes have changed from a pure pale grey, and are deepening with hints of amber. She seeks me out and I find this so very endearing.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Nym, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I suppose that as we grow older this is inevitable but this doesn’t make it any easier.
Lovely photos,
xxx
Friends beginning to die is a grim reminder of the transience of existence.
Sorry, but it only gets worse, our count last year was in double figures. Ouch!
Do what you want to do now, right now, not plan for a future that is far from certain. (notwithstanding the Aztec calendar!!!)
And the best thing you can do, if you haven’t already, is make a will. The amount of people that die intestate is truly shocking. It is screamingly insensitive to your surviving loved ones.
thank you, both.
(Will in hand, Christina.)