Most mornings I am the first to stir and remain up, (as opposed to shuffling to the loo and back to bed by he who shall be nameless on this occasion). I, on the other hand, shuffle through the apartment in the dark, using mobile phone as a torch, to retrieve my ipad from its overnight charging position, and thence to my quiet hour in solitude. Why do I move in the dark, you may ask? Its because I do not want to disturb he who is slumbering and another he, who is perched under a blanket. Actually he who is perched, is a she since laying eggs after 30 plus years, but that is another tale. 

The first hour of each day is special to me, but this morning urges me to comment. The season has changed and it brings of course the changing hours of daylight as well as the weather. I slide open a terrace door, and look out into the predawn, nothing exotic here, we live in town in a 4th top floor apartment, so I see other buildings, and the sky, and at dawn a glimpse of the sea. Today however my eye was drawn to a sliver of moon, an attending star, and then I realised the sky is clear of recent cloud and is covered in stars, pretty sure Orion was above, (he who is slumbering would know but I shall not wake him), so I enjoy the spectacle alone in my special morning solitude, wondering who else is gazing starwards and relishing the moment.

Daylight is here, the townsfolk are about, the clouds are back and we have had a 5 minute downpour, so thankful for the rain after the long, hot and dry summer, the island needs every drop. I hear movement, so I anticipate a coffee in due course.

If you have read this piece, thank you, I had to share the dawn with someone.