To beard (again), or not to beard. That is the question. 🧔‍♂️

Tomorrow (30th) is my birthday. I say this not for likes nor salutations. I say it because it is a moment for me to pause and reaffirm my commitment to the Buddhist principles. Where empathy to all things, and an awareness of our connection to nature, guide me in all I strive to be as a human being.

One of the woodlands by my house has a pond with ducks aplenty. The low, winter sun this morning illuminated the green heads of the drakes like gemstones. A simple yet peaceful walk. May your evening be calm, my friends. 😊 🦆 #woodland #walk #nature #ducks #birds #calm #peaceful #photography #life

Bouquet sunset. A stroll in the South Downs National Park. May your evening be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #nature #sunset #sky #flowers #calm #peace #life #walk #photography

Merry Christmas, folks! 🎄 #Christmas

Midnight Mass at Winchester Cathedral. 🙏 #Christmas

I love the work of Stanhope Forbes. This piece, especially, very poignant tonight. The way he captures the light, the weariness of the adults, and the wonder on the faces of the children. I think it is rather beautiful. 🖼️ #Art #StanhopeForbes #Newlyn #Cornwall #Christmas

‘Winter’ …a little poem I wrote last year. ✍️ #poetry #poem #write #writer #winter

Happy Christmas Eve, from Monty and me. It’s a sunny and crisp one here, perfect festive weather. Whatever you are doing and however you celebrate, I just wanted to wish you peace, good health and much laughter with those closest to you. Seasons greetings, my friends. 🎄 #ChristmasEve #life #love

Throwback to autumn, and early morning dog walks through The New Forest National Park. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #Hampshire #nature #walk #trees #horses #calm #peace #NewForestNationalPark #life #photography

Before we speak, we should allow our words to pass through three gates: *Is it true? *Is it kind? *Is it necessary? Rest well, my friends. We go again tomorrow. 😊 #kindness #life #calm #peace #mindfulness

Christmas doors 🚪🌺 #Christmas #festive #wreath #life

My son used to attend the Choristers’ School for Truro Cathedral. Many years ago now, but I always love these videos from their school carol service. Sharing this with you for some festive cheer. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #Cornwall #choir #cathedral #carols #festive #Christmas #sing

My local town, Romsey, had its open air carol service on the market square tonight. I love our community spirit here. Such a great turnout and a lovely festive feeling. 🎄🎵 #Hampshire #Romsey #Christmas #festive #community #life

The blessed joy of morning walks is watching Nature sigh as she wakes for another day. It is always a great reminder that we are connected to all things. 🌳 #nature #trees #walk #life #morning #calm #peace #photography

Farewell Chris Rea. May your light shine on. Drive home for Christmas one final time. 🎸🙏 #ChrisRea

Weather front over St Ives harbour. 😊 #Cornwall #StIves #weather #life #winter #calm #peace #beach #coast #photography

The Island, St Ives, looking majestic in the cobalt blue winter sky and calm waters. 😊 #Cornwall #StIves #nature #winter #life #calm #peace #photography

Ending this winter solstice with some Cornish calm. Rest well, my friends. 😊 #Cornwall #PraaSands #sky #ocean #beach #coast #walk #life #WinterSolstice #nature #photography

Low sun and chill breeze, and a mulch ridden walk along the country lanes. Perfect. 😊 #nature #walk #winter #calm #peace #sunset #trees #fields #countryside #life #photography

Happy Winter Solstice, my friends. May your day be peaceful. 😊 #Cornwall #Godrevy #walk #WinterSolstice #winter #life #nature #sky #beach #peace #calm #photography

There’s something about the earthiness and resting nature of winter that strikes deep inside me. It fills me equally with joy and long bouts of melancholy. 🌳 #winter #nature #life #mentalhealth #walk #countryside #photography

The crisp air and crunch of frost underfoot on the early morning dog walk. A perfect start to the day. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #nature #woodland #walk #sunrise #winter #frost #trees #life #photography

When we pause and look mindfully at the world around us, we can see we are connected to all things. Acts of kindness ripple infinitely outwards, and what we say and do and think matters. Kindness matters. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #Cornwall #Perranporth #kindness #life #peace #nature

My wingman, and a little poem I wrote. 🐕‍🦺 #dog #dogsofbluesky #life #cockapoo #poem #poetry #write #love #mansbestfriend

Remembering the crew of the Solomon Browne and the Penlee Lifeboat disaster, OTD 1981. Headed out into the unforgiving storm to rescue those in peril. Cornwall and the nation mourned these brave souls then, and we do today. May their light shine on. 🙏 #RNLI #PenleeLifeboat #Cornwall

End your day with some Cornish calm. Know that your best today was good enough. Rest well, my friends. We go again tomorrow. 😊 #Cornwall #sunset #nature #sky #sea #ocean #calm #peace #life #photography

Gentle days in the city of Bath. 😊 #Bath #canal #nature #sky #walk #calm #peace #life #photography

Swanpool Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall. Tranquil in the high pressures of summer, but the breakers roll ferociously in the winter storms. 🌊 #Cornwall #sea #coast #ocean #walk #calm #peace #photography #life

To the sea! Throwback to warmer times in Carbis Bay. 🌊 #Cornwall #CarbisBay #ocean #sea #beach #coast #sky #walk #nature #photography

Never mind Christmas countdown, it’s only 99 days until Opening Day. 😊⚾️ #baseball #Cardinals #mlb #StLouisCardinals #ForTheLou

We must take care of our thoughts when alone, and take care of our words with others. What we think and say matters. Be curious, open minded, and be kind. Rest well, my friends. 😊 #life #mindfulness #calm #peace #kindness #photography #sky #sunset #nature

Some Cornish medicine to cleanse your timeline. May your evening be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #Cornwall #CarbisBay #sea #ocean #nature #coast #walk #calm #peace #life #photography

Today is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. At the weekend, I had the joy of visiting her house and see her writing desk where she produced such classics as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. To know she wrote those on this desk was incredible. 📖 #JaneAusten

Truro Cathedral standing proud in the low winter sun. 😊 #Cornwall #Truro #Cathedral #architecture #home #winter #sunset #sky #peace #calm #photography

Hot air balloon trip over the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh, at sunrise. Despite sharing the trip with a few others, I was able to feel a complete and joyous sense of aloneness, just drifting and admiring nature. A reminder that we are connected to all things, and that life is fleeting. 🎈 #life

You cannot pour from an empty pot. Allowing yourself time to be mindful and recharge is not selfish, it is vital for our resilience. Rest well, my friends, we go again tomorrow. 😊 #nature #sunset #ocean #sky #beach #coast #life #calm #peace #mindfulness #photography

Monty guarding the sunset. Nobody shall steal it. 🐕‍🦺😊 @weratedogs.com #dog #dogsofbluesky #cockapoo #sunset #sky #beach #ocean #photography

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with fear or anxiety in these chaotic times. This is understandable. However, if we allow it to dominate our every moment, we will miss our appointment with life. Allow yourself time to pause, return to your breathing, and recall the good that still exists. 😊 #life

Throwback to late summer walks in the Cathedral of Pines. If your Monday is chaotic and you need a moment of calm, come walk with Monty and Me. Please remember, your best today is good enough. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊🌲 #nature #woodlands #walk #calm #peace #mindfulness #photography

Literally bumped into a Falconer on a country walk in Chawton today. Met this absolutely beautiful boy. 🦉 #owl #nature

Popped over to the beautiful village of Chawton which is just up the road from me. I absolutely love where I live: the countryside, the old English villages, picture postcard perfect. And a drink in the village pub after a long walk. Perfect winter Sunday. 😊 #Hampshire #countryside #walk #winter

The Winchester Christmas Market feeling festive in the crisp 4C air. 🎄 #Christmas #festive #life #ChristmasMarket #Winchester

A little face waiting patiently for me to return home last night. Dogs really are heaven sent. 🐕‍🦺❤️ #Monty #cockapoo #dog #dogsofbluesky #love #life #photography

It’s great to see Joseph singing the blues with Mary on keys. 🎵 🎹

Pause, return to your breathing and see the beauty around you. Despite the chaos of life, there is still so much joy when we look mindfully. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #Cornwall #nature #trees #sky #river #walk #life #calm #peace #mindfulness #photography

The walk home…. 🏠 #Truro #Cornwall #walk #Malpas #history #architecture #trees #calm #peace #life #photography

Early morning dog walk with waist-high mist and gentle sunrise. May your day be peaceful, my friends. 😊 #nature #trees #sunrise #countryside #life #walk #calm #peace #photography

First I have the coffee. Then I do the things. ☕️ #coffee #life #joy

End your day with the balm of nature. Sunset over Hengistbury Head, Dorset. Rest well, my friends. 😊 #sunset #nature #sky #sea #calm #peace #coast #walk #life #photography