5th October from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
A small figure battles along the empty, flat sand into the teeth of the westerly gale. The long waves race ashore covered in a long, lacy tablecloth that stretches from one end of the beach to the other. A banquet that happened many years ago. The wind wooshes in the trees. The paths are covered in the small acorns from the holm oak trees and the broken cases of the sweet chestnuts that quickly turn to flour where feet trample them. The goats are doing a good job eating the invasive bushes on the cliff face, letting the light in for the lower growing plants that will help stabilise the cliffs. But they also reveal a deep layer of bottles, cans and wrappers. The crow with the injured wing seems to be managing fine and hops about with a party of pigeons at the side of the path.
From 5th October 2021
The path is littered with twigs and pine needles. The air is fresh and cold and the sky is a transparent, pale blue. Unsullied apart from a band of gunmetal clouds heaped along the horizon. The usual pre-dawn activity. Crows and magpies croak and chatter A man with a big white shaggy dog and a whistle apparently specially designed for the dog to ignore so that the man resorts to shouting. Which also has no apprent effect on the dog. So the sound of the morning goes whistle whistle Rover come here croak, chatter, Rover, whistle whistle croak. A jogger in a mauve top and shorts. A personal trainer and his victim gloomily perform physical jerks on the grass. The tops of the clouds turn pink and orange. The clouds themselves become purple and the sun emerges, gold and bright and casts a warm path across the nervous pewter sea. #Bournemouth #WestCliff #autumn#
From 5th October 2019
The grey mist envelopes the bay in a soft blanket. It combines with the steady, reassuring susurration of the waves to make the morning somehow comforting and I am glad to be walking in it. I can add to my haul of Autumn flowers with Herb Robert and the mass of catkins on the hazel bush. Of course, the gorse is always in flower (when the gorse is in flower it’s kissing time again) and fills the fresh air with a distinctive coconut odour.
From 5th October 2011
Just the tap tap of the blinds at the open window and beyond, in the darkness, the roar of the surf.
