17th August

No sign of the promised rain overnight and the grey clouds and early haze were jostling aside by mid day. And then the sun came out and the day returned to warmth. The sea was brightened with a little choppiness. But from the East a huge dark rolling mass of cloud erupted and devoured the firmament. Within minutes a vast deluge erupted and continued for some time but with one or two thunder grumbles. For the first time in two months there was enough rain to make puddles, stained tea dark from the mass of pine needles that littered the path and mirroring the silver sky. Large tracts of the Green where the grass had been worn away to white dust suddenly became blackened by the deluge as though fire scorched. And in the calm of the evening a pair of wagtails scampered and bobbed on the wet tarmac.

From August 17th 2021

You know the best time for photography is close to dawn and dusk when the shadows are clear and deep and definition is sharp. This evening the sky is grey and everything seems flat and uninteresting. There was drizzle this morning with an interval of warm sun this afternoon. Although everything is still green there is a tired feeling to it. The colour scheme seems to be predominantly yellow and purple. Ragworts and charlock and mallow and thistles. But there in the long grass a garden escape of sweet peas has filled up a spare corner with a mass of bright pink flowers twining among the stems. The sea is calm and still while the Dorset Belle makes her way homeward after a day of trips round the bay.