An afternoon walk along the old Tudor harbour wall to see the sun fade is such a treat at this time of year. It clears the head when writer’s fog and procrastination set in. It is cold now and very quiet as the visitors have gone so we have the place and the sea to ourselves.

But that tranquillity is disrupted from time to time when the sea rises in a ferocious storm like ‘Bert’ that slammed in 24 hours later. Gale force winds, continuous drenching rain and the howling noises of the storm persisted for a couple of days. Debris and flooding are everywhere. All you can do is hunker down and wait for it to pass.

After the storm, calm returns and the lower garden is bathed once more in the meagre sunshine.

It will be Advent tomorrow and time to prepare for Christmas. Right on cue, the bright red stems of the dogwood and the kale give that seasonal look.

The light will come back after the winter solstice in three weeks but we already have a portent of spring in an early flowering hellebore.

So have a Happy Christmas and keep well while I write a few blistering chapters of my new book.