14th December from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
A brisk little wind. Chilly but not as cold as it has been. But enough to send the treetops swaying and the magpies chattering. Under the pines it’s quite calm. The leaves lie thick on the ground. The English oaks and the silver birch are quite naked now but there are already next spring’s tight red buds ready to go. The three sided leeks are growing up in strong green washes. Little gusts of cold wind are ready to spring a surprise from behind exposed bushes. A pale sun emerges every now and then from behind a veil of cloud but it provides nothing more that a glassy sheen on the rippled water of the bay. Just enough to keep the day alive.
From 14th December 2021
In one of those little tricks that nature plays on us, the sunset tonight was the earliest of the year (4.02 pm) despite the fact that the actual shortest day is not until next Tuesday. I have seen graphs and diagrams but don't ask me why. Altogether, though, today was oddly flat and still. At times the only sounds on the West Cliff were crows, magpies and jays and assorted background twittering from sparrows and tits in the bushes. The gulls seem to have deserted us and are presumably, feeding out at sea. Even the sound of the excavators on the beach seem strangely muted while the big machine demolishing the Hotel Riviera was crunching through the attic floors with the sound of a nutcracker cracking open a giant walnut. #Bournemouth #WestCliff #December #Winter
From 14th December 2011
The wind has dropped to a cool breeze but the sea roars. It speaks of storms down Channel and out in the Atlantic. Pillows of foam chase up and down the tide line. The moon is still bright enough to cast my shadow on the sand.
