Undeterred by the clammy fog that dampened our hair and sent tendrils of frigid mist into the depths of our lungs we valiantly set off to explore the autumn colours around Byland Abbey. No ray of sun struck forth to lift the gloom. The colours refused to shine. But we shone instead. We strode manfully up hills and down dales and ignored the droplets of cloying moisture that adhered to our clothes. We ate our sandwiches and watched the fog drifting through the trees and over the hills and allowed our imagination to pierce its folds. I took some photos. I thought they might prove atmospheric. Oh well.

The abbey was nice. I like historic ruins (I’m becoming one myself). Henry VII had a whale of a time pulling them all down. It must have been hugely impressive back in its day – particularly when in 1166 the populace were all living in wattle and daub shacks.