12th November from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
The low autumn sun provides vistas, lit in different ways. The view to the sea is vignetted by dark trees. But there are a myriad details picked out entirely at random: shadows across the path, a single leaf, a feather, a rain-sodden blue notbook that says “homework” on the cover. A squirrel runs along a fence top angrily chiding one of the cliff top cats. And despite the low sun, the day is warm enough to swim in the strong waves. And although everyone knows the hammer blow of winter will fall soon enough a bank of three sided leeks pushing through the leaf litter, is ready for spring when their white flowers and pungent odour will enable locals to use them as wild garlic.
From 12th November 2021
It hasn't been cold today. Neither very warm. The sea has been agitated at times but then calm again. The sky has been peculiarly lumpy with big grey wodges of cloud and with the odd blue patch. Occasional almost imperceptible drizzles. Just enough to damp the pavement but not to make puddles. The moon is half way from new to full. But the most brilliant are the three planets, Venus just after sunset and Saturn and Jupiter dodging the clouds and following her through the sky. #Bournemouth #WestCliff #Autumn #November
From 12th November 2016
The sea is anything but pretty today. Line after line of stiff necked waves marching in out of the grey distance and hurling themselves at the shore. The sound is of a hoarse sibilant rasp like the villain in a Sunday Tea time BBC2 adaptation of a Dickens novel.
