Our work in Portland harbour was only a few minute's walk from the hotel - a bonus as I wanted to keep up with my walking regime. We're usually some distance away, sometimes many miles.

I noticed an old photo taken before the First World War on the wall of the hotel which depicted part of my early morning stroll to the factory. A then-and-now comparison was irresistible. Very little of the structure of the street has changed - even the sash windows look like they're sporting the same coat of paint!

Not long after the sun was up, it was time for my day shift. It was not unusual to find that some ship or other had slipped in through the breakwater during the night.

Not only warships...

... but tall ships and...

... cruise liners as well.

Across the bay from the factory stood what I imagine were old Customs Houses; still in use but rumoured to have some connection with operations we're not meant to know about.

This would tie in with the various comings and goings of the Chinooks and Sea Kings at a facility on the other side of the bay. Before you know it, a conspiracy theory is born!

On the wall of the bar in our hotel was a mural depicting preparations for the American's D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. Further down the street, next to a small military museum, was a sobering plaque bearing the names of many of those who participated in the landing - the list was not exhaustive - and following their departure from Portland, didn't come back. Less gloomily, the list also recorded those who went on to survive the war.

I remained confused by the graphics on the footpath that led to the harbour...

... but as Zebedee said, it was time for bed.