20th December from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
Someone is holding their vlogging camera so the view across the bay is behind them. It is a favourite with the on-line fraternity and sororiety. The swell is enormous and crashing onto the beach with a thump and a shatter of white foam. But the sun appears from the early morning clouds into a clear sky. And despite the fact that it is so low in the sky it provides some warmth to the fresh, breezy air. The shadows are long and by midday the warmth is beginning to go out of the day. But there are people enjoying the day on the cliff top. Three ladies, swaddled in dry robes and wearing brand new pom-pom hats are making their way down the zig zag towards the surf. They carry their necessary accoutrements in soft builders’ buckets. The gulls and crows look on in wonder.
From 20th December 2020
A debatable, unsure start to the day. Teenage angst or elderly confusion. A sharp breeze tells us it's December but the rolling misty rainy clouds wallowing across the bay from the Purbeck Hills speak of earlier, fatter days. A pale, sickly sun struggles to make itself known in a ragged break in the cloud banks. But overhead the sky is as pale blue as on a June morning and reflects brightly on the pavement puddles and the trickling streams in the gutters.
From 20th December 2010
frozen silver moon and million upon million of dancing snow crystals. the town is empty - only two taxis passed me on the way home. the hotel at the end of the road is holding a karaoke night. the singing seems flat and empt
