It was lovely to get down to Dorset last week for a few days with Helen, Paul and Alistair. I managed to avoid the difficult weather last weekend and apart from a couple of motor boating moments got safely down to the lovely Dorset countryside. We enjoyed a lovely walk on Fontmell Down adjacent to Compton Abbas airfield near Shaftsbury. It was not as cold as expected with nice late autumn sunshine. The sun had gone when we had a gentle stroll around Sculpture by the Lake, near Tincleton the following day. I was impressed by the variety. There are many bird sculptures by Simon Gudgeon, the owner, and plenty of others by a range of sculptors. A highlight was a little time with Copper the spaniel. The River Frome was pretty high and running fast. After our walk at Fontmell Down, the day before, we had a light late lunch in Shaftsbury, home of Gold Hill. No-one was delivering Hovis on Tuesday.