08/04/23 – Dusk with the iron men

We walked through the dunes and saw them, all spread out, staring to sea. Antony Gormley’s Another Place, 100 iron men standing amongst the elements. The sun was setting, a band of pink below deep blue streaks of cloud on the horizon. The sand was dimpled and swirled, stuttered into bands by the tide, andContinue reading “08/04/23 – Dusk with the iron men”

02/04/23 – Mermaid’s purses and egg sacs on the shore

Yesterday I went to the tide pool. It was windy and I wobbled as I walked out to the first ladder. Great swathes of seaweed had spread since I’d last been and they were spread-eagled beneath the surface, black through milky grey. I climbed down the ladder into chest clenching cold, swam across with theContinue reading “02/04/23 – Mermaid’s purses and egg sacs on the shore”

18/03/23 – Seven Sisters

We took the path beside the low lazy river through the marshland. The tide was low and the banks, straight and ochre, stood a foot above the flat surface. A kayaker paddled seaward and we noticed that, at the very edges, we could see the sandy bottom. A cormorant took flight and we kept walking.Continue reading “18/03/23 – Seven Sisters”

11/03/23 – Seals and roosting rooks in Norfolk

I walked down the slope towards the waves and their heads popped out; sleek dark bodies, everywhere. Big dark eyes, backs curving out of a cresting wave. I was told there’d be seals here, but I never thought they’d be so instant, so obvious. I walked beside the water, waves white and loud, rushing intoContinue reading “11/03/23 – Seals and roosting rooks in Norfolk”

03/03/23 – Turkey tail mushrooms and budded daffodils

I went for a lunchtime walk by the river. At first I noticed only cyclists and joggers, bits of rubbish among the leaf litter. Then I watched a dog charge into the water. Chasing a gull, it launched itself, paws paddling furiously, a triangle of wake lanes rippling behind it. The bird planed low overContinue reading “03/03/23 – Turkey tail mushrooms and budded daffodils”

12/02/23 – Low tide at West Wittering

At the weekend I went to West Wittering for the first time and it was packed. I’d hoped a grey February Sunday wouldn’t be too busy, but there were huge groups of people all over the wide expanse of sand. I turned right, towards East Head, which I hoped would be quieter. The tide wasContinue reading “12/02/23 – Low tide at West Wittering”

21/01/23 – Frozen sunset in the woods

On the way to the woods I spotted the furry buds of a magnolia. The end of one branch had snapped, leaving a silky prong on the pavement. I picked it up and carried it with me. The birds were loud as I went through the gate and up the mulchy path. I don’t knowContinue reading “21/01/23 – Frozen sunset in the woods”

11/01/23 – A falling down fort and an early moon

Yesterday I went to the end of the road and down the back lane to where a small track runs off into the undergrowth. The path was sticky after so much rain, but solid still, bouncy underfoot. I walked along the back of the houses until I came to the woods, then turned down theContinue reading “11/01/23 – A falling down fort and an early moon”

30/10/22 – Copper

Just a walk around the block today. So many of the leaves are still yellow, not yet red or orange, and the air feels mild still. I’m looking forward to the biting chill of winter, frosty breath and big scarves and knuckles that crack with the cold. But for now, the virginia creeper is mottledContinue reading “30/10/22 – Copper”