17th October from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
The West Cliff Green is sandwiched between the cliff edge and the line of buildings to the North on the inland side. These buildings started out in the middle of the nineteenth century as large gentlemen’s residences and villas which then made way for a series of Edwardian hotels, hydros and hostels for single ladies. These in turn were replaced by blocks of apartments of various styles and heights and so they continue today. Of course, no one looks in this direction. People come to gaze South over the wide expanse of Poole Bay or to lie on the grass and watch the clouds in the sky. But today begins wet and miserable and walkers and idlers can’t help but notice the extraordinarily uninspired architecture of the sixties and seventies. They are a series of flat back drops. But as soon as the breeze dries the paths and the evening sun is on them even they can look striking, bold and uplifting. A gull sails by on stiff, unbending wings.
From 17th October 2021
The fronds of bracken turn from their deep summer green to a bright yellow to the familiar rusty brown we see for the rest of the winter. But in this autumn transition you can see all three colours at once, green, yellow and brown making a sort of harlequin patchwork along side the paths. As the sun dips towards the horizon it cascades a bold pinkish gold flood low down through the trees and casts long dark shadows on the path in front of me.
From 17th October 2010
October is the most gorgeous month. The trees are still green but now touched with gold and orange outline after a sharp frost. The hedgerows are festooned with trails of old man's beard and garlands of scarlet hips. Holly is at its best with the blood red berries untouched by the birds against glossy green leaves. The year is in party mood and is dressing up for one last mad fling before the winter.
