8th June from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth
Sunshine. Dappled shade. The morning draws a deep breath as if waiting for the day to get going. On the beach there is still a snappy beach and the breakers are not comfortable for swimming. Now, the signs that we have had no rain for some weeks makes themselves manifest. The short grass areas are distinctly brownish and thin. Flowering plants are beginning to run to seed and the glossiness is beginning to fade from the new leaves. The sky stays resolutely blue. Quaking Grass (Shiver Grass) is everywhere among the long grasses at the paths edge. The white, bell-like seed heads shiver and shake in the slightest breeze. The late spring meant that that the big grasses galloped forward as soon as the warmth occurred and there are now more varieties and bigger, than I have seen before on the West Cliff. Pigeons coo in their new-found summer voices.
From 8th June 2022
The blue beach flag and the red and yellow Life Guard banners stand out stiffly from their poles in the strong breeze. The little waves race up and down the beach like excited puppies, The sky is grey and my shadow on the path is very pale. The goats are eating bramble leaves as if their lives depend on it. Which, I suppose, they do. Greenfinches wheeze and churr in the gorse bushes. And then the sun emerges into a little pool of blue. My shadow is strong and dark and the sunlight glistens off the top of bald men's heads. Before the clouds gather round again and everyone shrugs in the sudden chill. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #June #summer
From 8th June 2019
I've been down to Tesco's and I'm walking back along the top of the Westcliff swinging my loaf of bread and I find myself singing "whether you're a brother or whether you're a Mother you're staying alive. Ha ha ha ha Staying Alive." What on earth? Where did that come from? And then I realise I'm re-enacting the opening credits of "Saturday Night Fever". It might not look it to you but for a few moments I'm John Travolta moving through the crowded New York streets swinging that can of paint. No shoe shops to compare my loafers in, though.
From 8th June 2016
I was privileged to have a stag beetle wheeling his droning flight round me as I walked on the West Cliff. I got some sort of picture by whirling round and round and firing off the camera at random. A fabulous creature larger than my thumb with enormous antlers and a peculiar upright flight with huge wings blurred by speed. You'll be lucky if you see one because they are becoming increasingly rare but now are the evenings to watch out for them.
From 8th June 2012
The roaring sea is half way between keeping me awake and soothing me to sleep. I'll just lie here and listen to it.
Later
Ha ha. There is a man with a leaf blower battling with the fallen debris while the gale just swirls the leaves round and round him. But he is being paid per leaf blown so he just keeps at it.
