Category: genius loci

21 April 2021

I thought twice about the title of this page, having found Ian McEwan’s novel of the same name quite dire! But what the hell, that’s where I was on a cold, windy but very sunny spring day. We started off at the beach car park and walked along…

3 February 2021

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour. – William Blake, Auguries of Innocence In my rather small lockdown world, a walk on the beach at low tide…

7 December 2020

I spent the afternoon on Eggardon Hill – the changing light and mist looked very enticing as we drove there, but shortly after arrival, it thickened and darkened and it felt very definitely wintry. We were hoping for a glorious sunset at this eastern end of the Marshwood…

1 December 2020

It’s almost the end of a very strange and confining year. I usually get about the Southwest a bit, but have spent most of this year very close to home. So, my online advent calendar for my friends and followers this year is firmly local – views east…

27 November 2020

When I first had a digital camera, I found it hard to restrain myself from taking far too many shots, most of which were utterly discardable. My hard drive filled up with unexceptional images, most of which I never looked at again or printed. These days, I try…

23 October 2020

Since SARS-CoV-2 struck, we’ve tended to do our almost-daily walks first thing in the morning. At the start, this was out of necessity as we were instructed to abhor any human contact during exercise, and fewer people went out before breakfast. But over the months it’s become a…

8 August 2020

A lot of people complain about the Town Council (as in most communities, it’s always easier to complain than to praise) – but the gardening staff have done a wonderful job this spring and summer, despite the multiple inconveniences of lockdown. In this post, I’m sharing a few…

16 June 2020

… when the living is not exactly easy for all sorts of reasons, but is certainly simpler – and sometimes, quite wonderful. Unable to sleep, I got up just after sunrise and found lots to enchant me just a few minutes’ walk from home. Despite the hour, it…

13 April 2019

On a dry and bright breezy day, I did this circular walk starting and finishing in the lovely village of Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck. Up and down to the coast along steep combes, and a short stretch of the Coast Path. Walking down to the…

18 March 2019

Spring weather is always a bit chancy, but I and a friend were lucky with a dry day for our walk. We parked near the harbour in Brixham, and enjoyed the chaotic visual feast that is the working port. Wouldn’t they make great jigsaws? I can never resist…