Lake light

There is something so calming and soothing about a wonderful landscape view. This is what greeted my eye on waking this morning, Lake Windermere spread glassily in front of the window, fringed by sweeping hills.

A busy, productive day. Spent the morning clay-pigeon shooting, including an unusual chance to experience an old fashioned black powder shotgun. Side-by-side barrels, double triggers and percussion caps. What a performance to load it: layers of wadding, carefully measured black powder and lead shot, all rammed tightly into the barrels. It all took about a minute per barrel to load, then went off with a satisfying boom and a lot of smoke. The nearby flock of sheep were not at all impressed. Then a long afternoon meeting, in which we covered a lot of ground.

A good day, now dinner awaits.