07/10/23 – October Egrets

I follow the tow path down, past the boats and the houses, to where the canal widens, stone sides dropping away into open banks and keep walking, greenery either side of me. I catch a glimpse of something white in the shrubbery, turn and see a little egret perched on a branch. There is aContinue reading “07/10/23 – October Egrets”

22/09/23 – A big cygnet and a windy canal

Went for a windy walk before work. The canal has changed since I was last here, when it was still early summer and the brambles were full of fat ripe blackberries. Now the few berries left are mostly shriveled, but there are still a few pink flowers of Himalayan balsam tangled on the banks. IContinue reading “22/09/23 – A big cygnet and a windy canal”

04/08/23 – Cornwall – dried thrift, home scars and a tide pool

We started at the top of the cliffs, looking out over the pale bay with its jagged spikes of rock. There were people tiny on the sand but we stayed on the cliff path, following the edge of a field. The path was like a long drag of claw marks and the verges were fullContinue reading “04/08/23 – Cornwall – dried thrift, home scars and a tide pool”

11/06/23 – Swirling river weed and bursting thistles

Went for a walk by the river at the end of my friend’s street. The evening was warm still and we saw a swan family pulled out by the weir, the parents with their strong snaking necks, the big fluffy babies huddling against the wall. The parents raised their heads and stared at us untilContinue reading “11/06/23 – Swirling river weed and bursting thistles”

16/04/23 – Bog myrtle and hollow tree trunks in the Lake District

We started on the road at the national trust car park, after talking to a ranger about the amount of rubbish left behind. We reached a gate and turned across a field, the lake and the mountains to our right across the long grass. We crossed a bridge and paused to watch a dog madlyContinue reading “16/04/23 – Bog myrtle and hollow tree trunks in the Lake District”

22/12/22 – Low Tide

Yesterday I was tired and more than anything, I wanted to swim. I headed for the little bay next to the main sands but on the other, quieter side of the harbour wall. There was a huge digger on the ramp down to it, along with workmen in high viz jackets. I could see theContinue reading “22/12/22 – Low Tide”

Mawddach Residency – DAY 9

Today I woke at 5.45 because that was the time of the tide. But it was still black outside and rain was battering down. My bed was cozy and I rolled over, went back to sleep. The rest of the day it rained. The sky was thick with cloud, the mountains disappearing, shadows of grey,Continue reading “Mawddach Residency – DAY 9”