When I was a lot younger I used to go out walking in all weathers - occasionally I used to meet the search and rescue people and had to beat them off with my stick because I didn't want to be rescued.

One Midwinter's Eve I walked to the top of a ridge and found myself in the middle of a small stone circle, standing on a large flat stone.

The sky was completely clear with a large moon - it might even have been full, already high in the sky. The sun's disk was between two stones and two hills, and it is exactly 180 degrees from the position of the sunrise on Midsummer Day. There was no sign of Human habitation, no sound - it could have been the last day of the world. There was a light dusting of snow and the breeze was ice cold.

We danced Long Morris at school, for a term or two, and I danced it there around the stone with the thud of my feet the only sound.

I knew nothing of anything much in those days - but I danced down the sun wearing my black weatherproofs. It seemed to be something that should be done and that things were better for it being done.

Anne