One of those days

It’s been one of those days
when the lingering heat
makes everyone glisten
from heads to their feet
And there’s nothing to do
when the weather’s like this
Though I know that for many
it borders on bliss

Beach Huts

Stretching to infinity
Beach huts on Beach Green
Painted many colours
Brightest you’ll have seen

Here on the coast in Sussex
a haven on the beach
A little bit of paradise
there in easy reach

A ray of sun captured

I captured the sunset
at the beach hut today
Late in the evening
with a golden display

A test of time

Against the blue the old Town Hall
with yellow ochre walls
Declares aloud his history
from ageing hallowed halls
In Brighton now amidst the new
it stands aloof to change
Whilst all around the architects
make plans to rearrange

In Constable’s footsteps

Went to Brighton to see the original
on short loan from the Tate
It’s quite a lot bigger than the one on my wall
and to see it there was great

A Constable retrospective
representing four years’ toils
When he lived right here in Brighton
with some drawings and some oils

The green and the grey

The prevailing Sou’Westerly’s blowing quite hard
with white horses out there today
Its cooler but the view from the beach
is great with the green and the grey

The fly-past

Gulls above the Metropole
a fly-past just for me
Here in Brighton in the sun
next to the deep blue sea

Beach II

I’m a fortunate fellow
as within easy reach
from my home where I live
is a beautiful beach

Devotion

Up upon the Sussex hills
on Friday afternoon
I spied a sheep with new born lamb
the timing, opportune

As in my hand I happened
to have a camera with a zoom
allowing me to get in close
and for a moment be attune

Allure

The allure of the ocean
calls often to me
whenever I’m taken
away from the sea
So I have to return
as one does for a friend
as its magic and beauty
has no limit or end

Sultry

Mid May and springtime evenings
with warmth still in the air
left over from the sunshine
that has been shining there

Cuckmere Haven

Down at Cuckmere Haven
where the Ouse flows to the sea
the view from high on Haven Brow
is caught spectacularly
As up here with my camera
I pause to take a snap
The view as a reminder
that I am a lucky chap

Achievement and Pride

We’ve walked a hundred miles
my brother Dave and me
The South Downs Way from Winchester
to Eastbourne by the sea
And when we reached the signpost
at the end we both agreed
that the feeling of achievement
was very good indeed

Day Five (Alfriston to Eastbourne)

And just when we needed the sunshine
there it was just like a friend
to enrich us and encourage
and spur us to the end

Day Four (Rodmell to Alfriston)

Arriving here at Alfriston
we found the Smugglers Inne
A sixteenth century ale house
for the sale of beer and gin
And although it’s not imposing
many secrets here it hides
for behind its small exterior
more than twenty rooms inside

Day three (Ditchling Beacon to Rodmell)

And if I thought the views I’d seen
were the best that Sussex had
The ones I saw today notched
things up more than a tad
For the ones across the valley
where the Ouse flows to the sea
were almost overwhelming
as we walked, my Bro and me

Day Two (Truleigh Hill to Ditching Beacon)

I guess around this time of year
there really has to be
a shot of bluebells in the woods
for they’re wonderful to see

Day One (Washington to Truleigh)

The view from the top
of Chanctonbury Hill
looking north into Sussex
is beautiful still

Long Awaited

A day long awaited
arrives and I’m ready
Gear is all packed
and weather looks steady
Dry bags for the rain
if it comes just in case
But I’m hoping that they
will remain in their place

Promise in store

The daffodils are past their prime
but here at Horsted Keynes
The sunset comes at eight o’clock
and we all know what that means

Counting the days

And I am watching time
I’m counting off the days
when I can tread those chalky paths
down hidden Downland ways

Eight Miles

Eight miles took us past the Ring
where the view as ever was
breathtaking in the sunshine
on the South Downs here because
(and I know that some will argue)
but this is heaven here on earth
A place that God has smiled upon
and with riches given worth

Because we can

We’ll walk on the beach
at low tide on the sand
as dusk descends swiftly
and everything’s grand
With the lights from the city
out there to the East
Shining bright like a beacon
for a visual feast

These dusty trails

I walk these dusty trails
the sun above my head
towards the hazy hills beyond
to which I have been led

On the Downs

Up on the Downs
with sunshine and sheep
and lambs newly born
and hills always steep
and cows in the distance
and haze on the hill
and a marvellous view
that surprises me still

After Hockney

I thought of Hockney
on Beeding Hill
hawthorn in blossom
and beautiful still
The little white flowers
exuberant here
bright in the sunshine
at this time of year

Truleigh Hill in Springtime

On Truleigh Hill in Springtime
everything is splendid
Now that BST¹ is here
with daylight hours extended

A half pint of prawns

A half pint of prawns
and a beer in the sun
At the Bridge on a weekend
with Spring just begun