Lighthouse

Gone are the days when we used to grab our coat and be off in five minutes flat. It now takes about five hours. To leave by midday, it means a seven o'clock start for me. It's easy for my wife, she just lies there, while I get the papers, see to the dog, bed bath her, then dress her. Next it's hair wash, breakfast, and then she has to wait for me. There's a snack to prepare, washing up, another dog walk, me to get ready..................... and we're off. Midday!

The trip has to be planned for several days and it not until the morning that we know if we are able to go. This time it's to visit my mother in Torquay, about 75 miles away. The journey can take about an hour and a half but traffic and road works slows us to a two hour trip.

This time it's to make sure my mother is managing physically and to sort out some finances. She's in her eighties and the years are taking their tole. The house is far too big, and although she get help with her general care, it's getting to the stage where she will need a lot more help in future. She has excellent neighbours that keep an eye on her but decisions will have to be made in the not too distant future. Just one of the joys of old age.

The afternoon was fine and went all too quickly. My wife can only manage about two hours of sitting unsupported, so by four o'clock we took our leave.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for our trip home. The bluest of skies with a dozen long lasting vapour trails crossing overhead. Before we reached Newton Abbot, the sky had begun to change to gold. As we chased the sunset westward, we were treated to one of the most beautiful shows that Mother Nature has ever put on.

It was difficult to concentrate on the road and traffic with the sky changing colour every few minutes. Every time you thought you had seen the best of it, you were surprised again by a more spectacular show. If only we had had time to stop on high ground and soak in splendour being displayed to us.

I did stop for a minute to take a photograph, not the best of the show, but enough to ever remind us of the free beauty around us, the glory of an Autumn sunset.