Lightning snaps across the Purbeck Hills, thunder rumbles and the deluge, when it comes. is hard and bitter.

The sun glares from between the ragged scraps of cloud.

The wet, brown leaves are forming a mulch at the side of the path. Only the veins are discernible like a myriad criss-crossing spider webs.

And in the hedge glowing pink on a grey day and nodding in the breeze - the last rose of summer.

The sun is hot and its rays are focussed up off the ruffled water of the bay making it as warm as a summer’s day.

Although there are still eight weeks to go to the solstice, the sun is noticeably low in the sky and on a warm, blue sky day like today, the shadows are long at mid day.

Afternoon brings thin, weak rays of sun making muffled shadows among the trees.

A squirrel meets me on the steps and, deciding I have no importance in his world, edges by.

Sweet chestnut cases burst open and spill out their shiny saddle brown contents.

And in a matter of seconds, the rain becomes a torrent and unwary walkers are instantly drenched. The hail joins the rain. It is hard and hurtful and everything is lost in a grey out.

Gulls cicle aimlessly, black scraps against the grey.

After the cataracts are the hurricanoes. Big bear like winds rampaging through the trees.

The red branches of an old, leaning, Scots Pine glow pink in the late sun.

The glassy green swell of the sea is hurried forward towards the beach where it breaks in long, deep white foam fields that stretch far out from the shore

Here and there is a sugaring of frost; the first this autumn. Everywhere else is wet with a heavy dew.

As soon as the breeze dries the paths and the evening sun is on them even the uninspiring architecture of the sixties and seventies can look striking, bold and uplifting.

Fungi flourish where they are undisturbed.

Raggedy jagged craggy furrowed grumpy old man waves.

Despite its quotidian atmosphere for most users, the West Cliff Green is often used as a place of remembrance.

And as if making up for the summer an autumn bloom of flowers is beginning; patches of pink oxalis, red dead nettles and the bright cranesbill.