I spoke to a guy early on this VERY cold morning who was wading in the dark at the shore’s edge, singing football songs and smoking a fag.

I thought he was drunk, and that the bucket alongside was where his stash of bottles was stored. So initially I was watching with a bit of concern. But it turned out he was collecting shellfish. And that he’d been there since five am. And he did it regularly.

I’ve seen one or two people doing that job at a later hour, but never spoken to them. The fella in question must have seen my watching silhouette, and started speaking to me. He was very friendly, and clearly happy doing his job. It was a weirdly normal conversation in what felt like an odd time and place.

Despite the visually beautiful morning that it was, it ain’t an easy thing doing what he’s doing. But he was just Getting On With It. I’m going to remember him, and hopefully, I’ll see him again.

For me it was an inspiring encounter.