Christmas Presence not Christmas Presents
Barnacle Geese from Svalbard over SW Scotland The family is descending upon us in various waves over the Christmas and New Year festive period and there is a good feeling of joy and togetherness that can often be missed throughout the course of the other months of the year. Sometimes friends and members of our family who live in far flung corners of the globe travel huge distances to spend some time with us and renew old bonds. These visits also create new bonds when children introduce new partners or friends and sadly, they can also remind us of bonds that we had that aren't always present any more for one reason or another. As a nature lover and wildlife photographer I also think of our wider bond with the flora and fauna of the natural world around us. It is amazing how often we receive visits from those who live in far off places but perhaps we aren't always as aware of them as we should be. Perhaps we don't pay them a visit or even give them a second thought.