My camera is balanced on a bit of the wall of this ruin, set to self-timer and I pressed the button and scooted across the rubble of this ex-mine engine room at Pearce's Shaft, to my spot on the wall for the shot. It was not a danger-less scoot, the rubble was wet and slippery, the wall was high and I've never been able to stand on my own two feet for more than seemingly a few moments at a time. I took two attempts then decided that would have to do - I wasn't going to risk life and limb again!

Why was it so important to me to get this photo for my PotD? Well, it's the place you see. The place where I feel my cares blown from my shoulders by the winds and washed from my skin by the rain. I feel the earth beneath my feet and although there are no mango trees to whisper to, there are hawthorns, gorse, bracken and grass. I look out and feel as though I am a part of something that matters, yet I know I will make little or no impression on the place where I get my solace.

Even in the few short weeks since we first started our exploration of the area surrounding our new home, the terrain has changed dramatically. The bracken is brown and the leaves are mostly blown from the trees. Here there is little shelter to help the leaves cling to the branches, the wind simply whips them away like specks of dust.

Mostly, we've had pretty awful weather since we first came here, it has been raining or threatening rain but of course it's not like this all of the time, we've just been unlucky. I don't feel as though that's a problem, I feel as though my love of the place can only strengthen when we get some good weather and as that love is deeply entrenched in my heart and soul already, it must mean we can only find more and more happiness here.

Our sanctuary is about to get a bit less comfortable for a time - work starts tomorrow, weather permitting. that means when we come back next time, the electrical work will be nearly finished and the roof will be underway. We will start to see improvements and DM and I can start the work on the kitchen, making the concrete plinth for the Rayburn (now sourced and paid for) and starting the building of the cupboards and units. We are determined that our Christmas will be comfortable and warm. I am determined that I will be able to cook Christmas dinner in the Rayburn, rather than the festering thing that is here now that we laughingly call a cooker.

Now progress is being made, my heart lifts, my spirits soar and I find food for my weary soul.