Clouds

We went down to Kielder today. It was many years since I had been, and I'd forgotten what a beautiful drive it is on the stretch from Hawick via Bonchester Bridge. Wonderful countryside, but we had a timetable.

Having done what we had to do, we plonked ourselves on two chairs (yes, we took folding chairs, books and the Sunday paper with us; is this a sign?) by the side of the Reservoir. Kielder is the largest area of manmade water in Europe and had celebrated its 30th birthday at the weekend. Its primary purpose may be as a water supply for the NE of England, but what a resource has been created. It is stunningly beautiful, surrounded by miles and miles of forested rolling hills.

Other than the scale of the water, what struck me was the size of the sky. The clouds here are something we hadn't seen in a week of unbroken blue skies and sunshine. Perhaps that is coming to an end.