As I arrived at the top of Tarn Pasture yesterday afternoon and looked down across the Tarn I was surprised to see that Simon had lost his head.  I walked down to the cross wall where Simon is perched expecting to find that his head had dropped off and would be lying down at the foot of the wall.  No such thing.  There was no sign of the head either in the grass or floating on the Tarn.  I stood pondering this conundrum and, no nearer an answer, repaired to the hut to fettle a new head.  Whilst I searched around for materials to restore his cranial appendage I suddenly struck me.  The original head was a bag stuffed with straw.  Standing nonchalantly chewing the cud a few yards from where Simon was perched were 25 of Geoffrey's cows and sucklers.  The answer was obvious.  Simon had been decapitated by a bovine in search of a snack.  The evidence was around the foot of the wall in the form of a few shreds of straw which comprise Simon's grey matter.  His new head is inedible!

It faired up nicely yesterday and we had some autumn sun, the first bit of 'sol' for weeks.  This morning is very misty and atmospheric, but there is a distinct blue tinge to the sky through the mist so we may well have another fine day.  The river is in good shape for late season trouting, but a bit low now for good salmon fishing.  No doubt rain will return before long and restore good salmon water.

Ian