The shingle has been washed by long-awaited rain

19th June 2023

Happy and glorious. I can feel the warmth of the sun rubbing my shoulders even as I walk across the shingle towards the sea. It never looks better. A pool of sparkling sunlight tips glitter from the pale blue horizon very nearly all the way to shore.

The shingle has been washed by long-awaited rain. The shoreline is clean, the pebble-freckled sand at the water’s edge rough and ready.

It’s two hours past low tide. A full enough sea to swim properly, occasional mounds of sand to stand on. The sea itself is has the texture of a great and mighty snake, scales in sequence making small ripples that cover a softly breathing whole.

I’m the last down to the shore today. By ten past eight it’s been quite a morning. We’re mostly like that, it’s a country thing. In the summer (nearly there), eight is mid morning, swim and a snack time.

Everyone is in the sea except Rupert’s Mum, who’s been in and out already and is walking Rupert along the shore, and our lawyer who is managing his socks (as ever) having Rupert-sat and is now almost ready for the water. It’s about taking turns now that Puck’s back in the water.

I look at the wonderful sea for a bit and remind myself how lucky we are. This is what good fortune looks like. Hold your stress under until it’s well and truly drowned.

Looking over the water towards the sun, I recognise the swimmers only by their silhouettes. It becomes second nature after a while swimming with the same bunch. Swimming hats and face shapes, I don’t have to look twice other than perhaps to our lawyer who swims apart and looks so much like a seal in his swimming hat and jacket, I have more than once done a double take. Mrs Professor Peru is a seal too.

I spot the Canadian and the boatbuilder balancing on a spot of far-out sand, she is in levé on account of her height. She’s good at dancing in the sea. I swim towards them and balance too. We hang around chatting, managing complete conversations unlike when it’s cold. The sea becomes a water therapy spa. De-stressing in an immersion pool, laughing as we swim back to shore. Worries washed away.

Yesterday was a warm Sunday before the rain came. Idiots leave beer and coke cans. we litter pick on the way back to the car park. Puck, who brings an old carrier bag just for the purpose, has already done most of it.