27th October from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
Although there are still eight weeks to go to the solstice, the sun is noticeably low in the sky and on a warm, blue sky day like today, the shadows are long at mid day. Saunterers still can’t decide whether it’s tee shirts or down coats. By lunch time people are filling all the benches and eating leisurely picnics. It is half term so children are swinging from the low branches of the holm oaks or kicking through the soft carpets of pine needles. It could still be summer.
From 27th October 2015
The kestrel hangs apparently motionless in the updraught from the cliff edge. A gull approaching with languid wing beats glides into view high above. The newcomer, following some deep genetic need circles down towards the kestrel which remains unmoved, apparently unconcerned. The gull eases in a wide circle around the hunter, and receiving no acknowledgement of its presence stands off and circles a little way away. At last,the gull breaks fomation and sweeps across the kestrel's view. The kestrel dips a wing and slides away a little further down the cliff. The gull, honour satisfied, circles up and on. There appears no animosity between the birds, they are just dancers in an atavistic ritual that must be performed to ancient rules and they do it effortlessly and with grace.
From 27th October 2013
Now we are emerging from our storm shelters and underground bunkers we need to have a bit of a sit down and a cup of tea. As the Wrath of Jude was not quite as devastating as forecast i shall be disposing of seven cases of corned beef, 9 ditto baked beans, 13 boxes of candles, 4 sleeves of matches, 27 litres bottled water, two camping stoves and associated bottled gas, 3 hurricane lamps, 4 miner's helmets with little torches, 15 blankets, emergency distress flares, ropes, karabiners, breathing apparatus, stretchers and so on and so on
