Hope.

Yesterday I was awakened at ten minutes to eight by a bright, circular disk of light shining through the bedroom window blind.  I was puzzled - a street lamp? No, too high.  A light from a window across the road?  No, too definite in shape.  I got out of bed and peeped through the blind slats - the moon!  A full moon!!  And dawn was beginning to break.

The bright light continued throughout the day with the moon being replaced by the sun, shining from a bright blue sky.

I spent the morning at the hospital with my daughter for a check-up by her specialist.  He could see signs of improvement and felt things were going in the right direction. Albeit slowly - but encouraging just the same.

Back at home for lunch, a rest while the washing machine did its work, then a cup of tea and the decision to try and catch some of this bonus day of winter.

In the car we headed for Port Plaisance at Stenay, enjoyed a short stroll then found a bench by the River Meuse opposite the sun and its shining warmth.

A nearby angler tried his luck in several places, but without catching anything...but ever hopeful.

Ducks nagged me for forgetting to bring bread - but not as much as I nagged myself. It must be sod’s law that, whenever I bring bread, there is not a duck in sight.  If I forget, there are aplenty!

Behind us, the sun’s rays lit up a tree, glowing golden behind a mellow stone wall.

As the sun started to sink, we made our way home.

 A lovely day, full of the golden glow of hope.

Autumn reflections

autumn reflections

we drive between forests and woods
thick with golden October colours
to a quayside by the river
we stroll, sit, pause and reflect
breathe in the warm air
soothed by the beauty of the countryside

Canal off the River Meuse.

Canal bridge.

A small weir on the River Meuse with a canal to the right.

 Reflecting...

Saturday, 24th October 2015 - Stenay.

Pouilly-sur-Meuse

Sunday 28th June 2015.  A very warm, dry and sunny day.  After lunch, we decided to investigate a small area to the east and north-east of Stenay…an area new to us.

We approached via Laneuville, then between the Forêt de Dieulet and the Forêt de Jaunay on the D30, turning right at the border of the Meuse area of Lorraine.

Just below the village of Pouilly-sur-Meuse, the River Meuse and the Canal de l’Est run closely in parallel, then converge.

Canal views from each side of the bridge...

Three horses came to the river for a drink.  There was an obvious pecking order but once the first one had his fill, the other two went together, while the lead horse made his way for a nibble of leaves from a nearby bush.

Three people in a small boat head for the shallow weir and we head out on the return journey.

We returned to Laneuville - via Luzy-St-Martin and Cesse with the  Meuse on our left but sadly not visible - and back to the Meuse at Port de Plaisance at Stenay for a short walk by the river and afterwards a welcome, cold beer at the Café du Port before returning home.

Ah, a shady spot on a hot day...

...startling graffiti...

...sunlit ripples...

...and now for a cold beer which we enjoyed sitting at umbrella tables by the water - didn't take a photo as my mind was on the refreshment!

Late yesterday evening - at 11.45.p.m. - the sky was still light in the west…

Photos taken from a first-floor window at the end of a lovely day.