7th April from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

The air is as fresh as a newly scrubbed doorstep almost ready to welcome the spring in at last. The blue sky is smeared with white where the window cleaner has not quite finished his job. The sun is strong but it is climbing higher in the sky so the dark shadows make different shapes from the stretched out long fingers of winter. Young mothers are sitting out on the benches and walkers of all denominations are out in force. A magpie tries out her complete repertoire of whistles, grunts and percussive sounds. The Barfleur disappears over the blue horizon en route to the Channel Islands.

From 7th April 2022

A ruffty-tuffty, raggedy roistering roughneck, roustabout wind. Big grey and white bulging clouds barelling across the blue sky. The sun shines cosily down when it can but all this playing peek-a-boo is obviously sapping its strength. The sea is green and starched into ruffles and feathers. The sand is blown billiard table flat by the wind. An almost unbroken sea of daisies cover the green grass. Green finches sing from every busy on the clifftop. ##bournemouth #westcliffgreen #April #spring

From 7th April 2021

A sharp frost and brief flurry of snow overnight leaves the grass sugared white. It is acutely cold and fingers are soon numb. A little chill breeze picks at the surface of the otherwise calm sea. The horizon is sharp and clean as there is not even the faintest wisp of cloud in the dazzling blue sky. A yellow splash of colour to the east and for a moment the sun is a magnificent gold half circle as it pulls itself above the horizon before then climbing on up into the crisp heaven above the dark bulk of the Isle of Wight. The long, low arm that is the Purbeck Hills is suddenly sparkling with tiny lights as the new sun reflects off distant windows.