26th January from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
A cutting wind from the north east means the temperature plummets as soon as the sun disappears behind smears of slate coloured clouds. When the sun is out everyone smiles and says “Morning” or “Hi”. As soon as it goes in, amblers hunker down within themselves and find it difficult to make eye contact. A few patches of frost remain but mostly everything is just wet. The West Cliff Green itself is eerily silent. It seems to be sandwiched between the grumbling of the sea on one side and the sound of builders hammering at one of the hotels on the other. The ivy is glossy against the roughly ridged bark of the pines. The goats work on unconcerned. #bournemouthgoats
From 26th January 2022
The wind has shifted to West of North and it's a degree or two warmer. The sea has been smoother than millponds I have seen in the past. Walking home in the dark I see a couple canoodling on a bench. I try not to distract them but they say "Hi." and we exchange a few niceties about how calm everything is. And then I step off their stage into the darkness again. Out in the bay I see the running lights of a boat switch from red to green and back to red. It is the Swanage Lifeboat carrying out a search pattern. I hope it is just an exercise. Stay safe. #Bournemouth #westcliff #winter #january
From 26th January 2016
I am having a moment of existential angst. The England cricket team does not exist. Cricket does not exist. I do not exist.
