Morning mountains. Bright sun. Cold wind.

A big week getting ready for the Bath Artisan Market on Sunday 10th August. My first piece of displacement activity, in fact my default displacement activity in general - striding up Hay Bluff.

I can always justify walking up a mountain well, it's exercise! I found some wild thyme blooming on the slopes. Very Shakespearian, and a sure sign that fairies live here, although they would have to be hardy little folk to withstand the weather.

It was bright and sunny, but a very cold wind blew as I climbed. The light was amazing, everything so clear.

I feel so lucky to have this as my nearest place to ascend. I love the interplay of sunshine and shadow early in the morning.

 The only problem with walking up Hay Bluff at 6.30am is the ice cream van has not yet arrived in the car park when I arrive back there!
Now to begin the week.

A herd of mountain ponies

Up on Hay Bluff this morning, the air full of skylark song, and a fresh breeze.

The sky was wonderfully moody, with a massive cloudscape. It really is a huge sky up there.

There was a small herd of  ponies resting, with some foals lying down, and their mothers standing together.

One little foal saw us, and pricked up his ears.

The stallion with them was a handsome chap. He kept an eye on us, but wasn't too concerned. He's on the far left of the picture.

And then, he lowered his head and rounded up the mares, the foals scrambling to their feet, and the herd set off. He walked at the back. They looked marvellous against the cloudy sky.

It was a great way to start the day.

Walking up Hay Bluff. Eating ice cream.

 I started my preparation for a huge week of school workshops and performances by striding up Hay Bluff.

 The ascent is quite steep which makes me feel as though I am really exercising, and the views from the top of the ridge are astonishing. That's PenyFan in the distance, looking very one dimensional.

The hawthorn is in full flower, and there were splashes of white wherever I looked.

 The air was full of skylarks singing. Swallows swooped below me as I sat on the top, and a hang glider twirled in the breeze.

Usually there are only sheep, some cows, and ponies as company. The foals happy resting in the sunshine. Bees buzzing, even at the top of the ridge. A skylark walked past me as I sat very still. I've never seen one close up before.

Today is the last day of the Hay Festival however, and it's not raining, so the car park was full of people eating ice cream and feeding their sandwiches to some of the more friendly ponies. I love the contrast of the jolly ice cream van and the dramatic sky behind it.

The ice cream seller and I agreed that it was great to live here.
I'm nearly ready for the week!