31st May from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

A gentle breeze and only one of two tufts of frayed white cloud to show just how blue the rest of the sky is. The ears of the long grasses dance in the lazy air. The benches are filling up with people eating lunch or just chatting. One girl has brought her own camp chair where she can sit and read a large hard-back book. Perhaps she is studying for an exam. It must be difficult to concentrate. The temptation must be to drowse and watch the leisurely comings and goings through half closed eyes. Large slumbrous rollers chase in across the blue waters of the bay.

From 31st May 2022

No sooner have the white smudges of cloud withdrawn and the deep puddles and wet pavements begin to dry out. The fresh little breeze helps the drying but the tall plants and grasses are laden with diamonds and a steady patter of drops from the tree branches is as wet as the storm that has just passed. The sun beats down steadily and draws out a heavy resinous pine scent from dark pines. Their branches, silhouetted against the radiant light blue sea is deliciously mediterranean. One of our warblers churrs from the bushes. Pigeons coo. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #may #summer  

Two extra noticings this afternoon as a sort of uptick on the end of May:

1) I was being followed down the road by two Germans who were chattering away to each other.  We turned the corner into the cliff top with the bay stretching out bright blue to the horizon.  There was a sudden silence.  All they said was "Wow".  I felt strangely proud.  2)  I was leaning over the fence trying to locate a wren that was calling as if it's heart would break.  I was just about to turn away when I looked down and there it was right next to my hand.  We eyed each other for a split second, not a foot apart before Jenny decided to fly away.  I felt strangely lucky. #Bournemouth #westcliffgreen #May #summer

From 31st May 2021

A couple of days ago I remarked that I was trying to define the moment Spring became Summer. Well, today the sky is clear and cloudless. The beach is crowded by mid morning. In the streets around the branches of the copper beaches sweep low over the pavements and the lime trees are vivid green. and the apple and cherry blossom is well over. But many trees are still only opening their leaves. The oak in the middle of the roundabout has some way to go. The air is till fresh with a breeze coming from the east. This year has been the year of the buttercups and daisies which are growing in profusion everywhere. The spring bird arrivals are not yet in profusion and are being outdone in their chorus by our resident wrens and robins and blackbirds (although some of those may be summer visitors.) So, are we in summer yet? A little way to go, I think.

From 31st May 2013

Friday afternoon and the stag parties begin to congregate. Groups of eighteen or twenty 30-something men have started to parade up and down baying and shouting. Soon they will be in the pubs and bars doing what they do best. I will hear them coming home just as dawn is breaking tomorrow.