August 5th
For the first time in many weeks, a Great tit calls out its see-sawing song from the branches of one of the pines. The clear blue sky is populated with the puffy clouds that grow and shrink, sometimes blotting out the sun with big grey mounds, sometimes retreating to be friendly little white tufts. And so the day see-saws from warm to chilly from minute to minute. Twenty or thirty policemen form two or three groups armed with sticks with which they poke about under the bushes. “What are you looking for?” “I can’t tell you but you’d know if you saw it.” What they seem to find is a number of old cans and bottles. But they have turned over the leaf litter and pine needles thoroughly, which the squirrels and pigeons appreciate. The goats are pushing through the thick gorse brakes on the cliff face. A good sort of place to toss something illegal that you didn’t want the police to find, especially if you were running fast and couldn’t stop. The breeze is chilly, the sun is warm. So the day see-saws onward into the afternoon.
#Bournemouth #WestCliffgreen #Summer #August
From August 5th 2021
Between the downpours of rain the wind pummels and buffets under a leaden sky. Out in the bay a little white sail bounces gamely on between the big white horses. The beach is empty save for small parties of gulls who crouch hunched and immobile facing into the storm. Three crows stand on three fence posts sheltering behind the cliff top bushes. There seems to be something raggedly menacing about them. At the foot of the cliff a kite has caught in a tree. Its brightly coloured tail still streams out like a miniature rainbow against the grey. Walking back I see the three crows have been joined by two others. Five crows on five posts clearly is some ominous portent.
From August 5th 2013
A group of 43 middle aged people with umbrellas have just walked by my window on their way to the West Cliff. Could they be a party of lemming impersonators about to throw themselves over? Are they going to perform some complicated Tai Chi? Remake "Singing in the Rain"? Are they all going to be able to fit on the two person bench overlooking the sea?
Three middle aged men with baby buggies and a gaggle of eight children go by. The sun peeps out briefly.There are still purple clouds out in the Channel.
From August 5th 2011
Men in ill fitting suits and wifely tied ties. Women with inappropriate pieces of featherage on their heads and tiny strappy things on their feet. Rollies being rolled. Some sort of wedding event trailing down the street from the hotel to the clifftop. Hope there are no regrets so soon.
