5th September from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

It has been raining off and on all morning in short sharp showers. The paths are silver with puddles. But when the sun finally pushes through the knotted swags of grey cloud the rain is still pattering down. Sunshine and showers. What used to be called the Monkey’s Birthday. For a time the day is summer hot despite the little breeze. Shadows grow and then melt away as the sun moves off again. The Green is quiet after the weekend fun. A handful of dog walkers, amblers, strollers. One guy is sat on a bench reading giving the impression that the rain cannot intrude on his world. A woman props her bike against a bench a sits stretching her arms to cast off the strain of work.

Wild carrot seed heads are silhouetted against the sky. Here and There the grass is covered with the downy white feathers that pigeons have no further use for. The sea purrs like a friendly lion.

From 5th September 2021

By mid afternoon the skies have cleared somewhat and what was a humid, sultry day becomes a hot, humid sultry day. The sea laps gently against the sand but a heavy curtain of haar curtains the bay, giving a slightly claustrophobic feel. The Red Arrows play hide and seek in and out of the fog, Families stretch out across the grass and middle aged men with ridiculously long lensed cameras scan the skies anxiously, hoping for That Shot. The one that none of the other thousand or so photographers don't get. The Air Show crowd might get a little rowdy down near the pier where the beer tents are, but up here on the West Cliff, the crowd produces a soft murmur like that of a Test Match Crowd at Lord's. But let's not mention the cricket.