It's Still Life

1. Thankful for a roast chicken that serves up dinner for three night: Sunday roast dinner; chicken dumpling soup; chicken and asparagus pie.

2. Thankful for reminders that humanity is old but life is short; an amazing view from the road to Salisbury to take a friend out for lunch.

3. Thankful beyond words that a friend is feeling stronger as the week progressed — his sense of humour, too. Laughter is powerful medicine.

4. Especially thankful for a bit of colour lingering in the garden. I am so not ready to face months of grey and drizzle and frost and ice, and having to turn on the lights at 3pm …

5. Thankful for zoom-lens camera technology in mobile phones. I love taking quick photos with it. This bird is about the size of my thumb. It’s a blue tit.

6. A walk down a footpath near home. Nothing helps a person gain perspective and calm than a walk in the fresh autumn air.

7. Thankful that a close friend’s knows that I’m just a phone call away when he needs me.

8. Thankful that I’ve learnt to look down when I’m walking — usually. Yes, the bruise is gone; flexibility is still a wee bit restricted (can’t scratch my back yet.), but things are improving week on week.

9. A walk across the ‘Sussex downs’ at Beachy Head; green winter wheat starting to grow in the fields. This is pirate country: 18th century smugglers stashed French wines in the chalk caves to avoid the taxman (aka ‘gauger’).

10. Thankful for the opportunity to work on a 20-month project, and (finally) finish it — I have such a good feeling about it. Thank you.