15th March from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
The coast guards and an ambulance have assembled at the bottom of the Chine. The Inshore Lifeboat makes a search pattern along the water’s edge. Apparently a backpack has been found abandoned on the beach. The sea is calm and the waves are small in the chill, hazy, dawn light. There is a sharp onshore breeze. We do not hear the result of the search yet. The sun is veiled by a continuous grey cloud cover. The man who collects the litter puts three cashews out on the clifftop rail. Within seconds a crow has descended and collected them. The voice of other crows echo off the walls of the big blocks sounding as they would have done against the stone walls of an ancient fortress. The arrival of spring is heralded by three para sails that float majestically overhead. The gulls circle, interrogating these new arrivals.
From 15th March 2022
A crisp chill air to greet me after a day away. The night sky is slightly hazy so the bright gibbous moon shines as through super fine silk chiffon. The sea is slow and langorous. The trees are still and the shadows are deep and dark. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #spring #March
From 15th March 2021
A filmy grey sky and the remains of yesterdays chilly wind but when the sun manages to burst through from time to time it's quite warm. The sea is almost tranquil. A party of juvenile are hanging about on the clifftop in the way that all juveniles hang out together. Bored, shuffling just waiting for when they can do what the grown ups do in a couple of years. The man training his dog gestures for her to lie down. He walks away and puts a small trophy on the path. The dog waits alert but watching his signals. He walks past and away. The dog is never takes her eyes off him. He points. The dog races off, picks up the trophy and returns it to the man. The whole episode conducted with no words. I'm aware how much of the time I'm using gestures to communicate. A palm face up to greet familiar walkers. "After you" at a narrow part of the path. A truck driver is reversing across the pavement. I signal "Is it safe for me to come round in front" He signals back "OK. Quite safe. I'm watching you"
