2nd April from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

A cold wind. The sea lands with a gentle, rhythmic swoosh and the swell has quietened down but still advances on the shore in pencil straight lines. By the afernoon the heavy clouds have retreated somewhat and the sun tries to beat the cold. A fat wood pigeon sits on the gate safely out of reach while one of the brown and white eastern most goats becomes unusually friendly and tries to eat my mobile with his prehensile tongue. Voices carry clearly on the April afternoon air. The shadows long and the banks of three sided leeks are lush and strong. The intense waft of garlick is making my eyes stream. Almost every small bird is singing today. Magpies chack and crows croak.

From 2nd April 2022

The heavy, garlicky scent from the banks of three sided leeks hangs in the air and makes me sneeze. A snappy little breeze hurries us along. The waves are small and stiffly righteous. The sky is a spring-time mixture of pale blue and big bubbly grey and white clouds which hide the sun. A man chivvies his spaniel through the trees. Its name is "Item". Tiny blue speedwells smile up cheerfully through the blades of long grass. ##bournemouth #westcliffgreen ##spring #april

From 2nd April 2019

The fresh breeze has swept the big blocks of rain cloud away to the east. The rain is pouring steadily over the Isle of Wight. But here the sun has burst through with an intense blue sky accented with a jumble of ragged grey wisps and puffy white clouds that presage the summer. The sea is a breath taking shimmering sheet of silver lamé . A robin sings from somewhere in the depths of the holm oak on the clifftop.

From 2nd April 2014

On the rain wetted street the dustcart stands empty, orange lights flashing to warn no-one in particular, engine purring to itself. It is trying to tell me something if only i could catch that fleeting... no, it's gone.