Category: Beach Life

#1384 theoldmortuaryponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, Serendipity1 Comment
Sunrise over the pool at Coogee Beach

About 18 months ago  Google offered me the chance to have AI assistance with writing my blog. It was a brief research piece for Google

” Replicating your own unique voice”

I suppose I tried it for about a week, the results were dreadful, they never saw the light of day, and if my voice were unique in their AI way there would be no regular readers.

In art and photography there is a place for AI and digital skills. I use both for image manipulation but then I use tried and trusted analogue skills to replicate my own unique style.

I suppose the previous paragraph was written to reassure myself and all my loyal blog readers that I am not a flat earth dinosaur, AI luddite. But oh how I love the analogue skills I learnt in regular photography dark rooms and medical imaging dark rooms and the print rooms of art colleges. The joy of just writing down my whimsical ponderings is also a much loved skill. I know my haphazard punctuation and grammar slippages can be infuriating. I am analogue through and through wearing a voluminous cape of digital skills.

My two images for this blog are sunrise at Coogee near Sydney and Sunset at Portwrinkle in Cornwall. One month apart.

I asked AI what the connection was between the two and was rather charmed by the answers.

I suppose my connection was somewhat conceptual. I particularly love sunset because just over the horizon somewhere else is getting a sunrise. Conversely sunrise makes me a little guilty almost responsible for stealing someone else’s sun.

AI would never be able to replicate that convoluted  thought process.

The conundrum of giving and receiving. One is more virtuous. I strive to be virtuous. But also love gifts. The joy of a paper wrapped surprise is a life affirming activity!

#1352 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, Bobbing1 Comment
A fabulous weekend away in South East Cornwall.

Bobbers Bob away sometimes. In our dreams our away bobbing bay looks like this but the weather had other ideas.

Which in truth was a mixed blessing. This camping field remained empty. We chilled as the rain came down. We hunkered down and talked rubbish in the biggest camper van and in the morning the sun came out and we were the first on the beach. But the sea was very, very cold. But we will remember it like this because for a wet weekend it was perfect.

#1105 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn autumn, Beach Life, Colour, Serendipity2 Comments

Some of you may notice that 3 blogs have appeared in just over 24 hours. This is because Autumn proper finally arrived in the West Country and with only one planned task of the day we couldn’t give up on a cold crisp day with blue skies, bright sunshine and sharp shadows. We were out for all of the 10 daylight hours that November gave us yesterday.

Our early morning quest was to visit a farm cafe, that we always manage to miss,on our travels into the area known as South Hams. We like to have a small portfolio of places we have visited to take friends to. As I write this I realise we have never even taken our friend whose name is Hams to the South Hams.

Ironic really as his partner’s surname is Curnow the old word for Cornwall and he gets to visit Cornwall every time they visit us. Note to self to resolve this ommision.

Our target cafe of the day was Heron Valley. The orchard and fields overlook Heron Valley. As if to signal the beginning of a perfect visit a Heron rose into the air just in front of us and flew into the trees on the horizon to the right of this picture. Honestly!

Also perfect was the day bed provided for weary travellers. I was a traveller but hardly weary at 10 am. But needs must, for a photo opportunity.

Breakfast was fab. The dogs got chopped up sausage and a roaring fire to gaze at.

The cafe also has a small showroom for homewares made from recycled plastic water bottles. Autumn colours were everywhere.

And sharply defined shapes in the outdoor eating area.

https://www.heronvalley.co.uk/

https://www.weavergreen.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjFVfXaYrHRA6X8h96CCll8TNBNFj6dpbrHX54PwMI9uF7zq8h6ZxlRoCStwQAvD_BwE

It was at breakfast we decided to extend our day and visit a garden centre.

This week I have taken delivery of two rambling roses. The yard has proved it can grow roses well, it has nurtured an old rose that has been there forever and a cutting that was gifted to me. I bought three rose plants from the London 2012 Olympic sell off . They failed to thrive in our back garden I don’t know if it was me or the clay that killed them off. They were the roses that provided the medal winners bouquets and may just have been exhausted plants. Whatever the reason I have become timid about buying new rose plants until this year.

Going to a garden centre did not alleviate my timidity. Too much information. We retreated to the cafe and I resolved to take advice from the growing advice provided with my two new climbers.

Autumn colour was everywhere. Some of it on my plate.

Some great colour combinations just in the texture of gardening sundries.

Two cafe stops in the first 5 hours of daylight suggest that the next 5 should perhaps be spent doing some exercise. Slapton Sands was our choice of location, just beautiful sea and sand with no tempting cafes. I think the words bracing and beautiful best sum up our beach walk.

There was another plan for our afternoon, more painting of walls at home. By staying out until sunset we quite naturally cancelled this plan.

And to finish, a pretty public washroom. I love a pretty loo.

#920 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, Bobbing, Serendipity1 Comment

Four Devon Bobbers and one Cornish Bobber went bobbing at Talland Bay in Cornwall this weekend. I will admit this image is full of digital trickery but memories are a bit like this. The imagination and reality merged in a slightly twinklier version of real life.

Here is the real life.

I just chopped it up a bit, played with scale and enhanced some colour. Which is exactly what most humans do with an anecdote.

There is something a little tingly about being confident cold water swimmers. It turns us into Nyad Ninja’s.

We know that holidaymakers look on at a group of over-fifties women, arriving on the beach, and wonder what we are about. Especially when we slip out of our normal lives and stride confidently into the sea. No timorous squeals when the cold hits. We hear the comments of ‘Mad, brave, bonkers’ and push on.

There is no feeling like it.

#838 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, Bobbing, Serendipity1 Comment
Firestone Bay in the sun at 5 pm.

No late blogging today. Obviously for regular readers there is a clue to the repetitive nature of today’s blog. But as so often happens a ponder has emerged from the repetition that takes me off in an unexpected direction. There was a small pod of dolphins sleeping in the bay, roughly where the sea changes colour. Every now and then a dolphin broke the surface of the water. Sunshine and water, why wouldn’t I share the news with all my swimming friends. I put this image on our Bobbers Whatsapp group. A bobber then replied with this image, of where she is currently dipping her toes.

© Angela Bobber

What an uplifting pair of pictures. A visual call and response.

The minute I typed, call and response I thought I should check my thinking.

This kind of visual call and response happens a lot on the Bobbers WhatsApp group. Tranquility Bay is our ‘home’ but if a bobber dips into other waters and gets a great photo then a picture pops up for everyone to enjoy. Nearly always with a comment that a swim at Tranquillity Bay will be much appreciated when the bobber returns from their glossy holiday bobbing.

Funny that I would use a shanty term to describe photographs of the sea. It must be the ebb and flow, the rhythm of  flisvos*

Meanwhile the sun is rising and I must be up and about and printing.

*

#830 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, Serendipity2 Comments

After days of rain we discovered this furry blockade in the hallway. The sun was up and no one would be leaving the house without the dogs. We needed bread and the dogs needed daylight without getting wet.

Lola had a route planned, appropriate provisions were bought.

And some comfy rocks were found for some winter basking.

A good start to the day and so far very minimal pondering. Just dogs, coffee and a view.

#779 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life1 Comment

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

As long as there are days like this, the concept of living a very long life sits well with me.

Even on less glorious days I am happy to take whatever life gifts me. The alternative strikes me as unpredictable at best and somewhat dull at the other end of the scale.

Van Morrison sums my thoughts up, good days are to be treasured and if I were to skip off early there would be no more good days. Or days of any calibre for that matter.

Days Like This.

When it’s not always raining there’ll be days like this
When there’s no one complaining there’ll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this

When you don’t need to worry there’ll be days like this
When no one’s in a hurry there’ll be days like this
When you don’t get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there’ll be days like this

When you don’t need an answer there’ll be days like this
When you don’t meet a chancer there’ll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fit it
Then I must remember there’ll be days like this

There’ll be days like this

When everyone is up front and they’re not playing tricks
When you don’t have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When it’s nobody’s business the way that you want to live
I just have to remember there’ll be days like this

When no one steps on my dreams there’ll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there’ll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this

Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There’ll be days like this

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Van Morrison

Days Like This lyrics © BMG Rights Management,

#675 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, dog walks, Serendipity, Van LifeLeave a comment

We went in search of an offshore breeze yesterday and found ourselves at Godrevy at Gwithian Towans on the north coast of Cornwall. The September Heatwave made a large rockpool the perfect spot for a skinny dip.

Our evening location was very acceptable in every way.

The evening dog walk was very slow and in places the sun was setting in just the right spot.

Ponies are used to keep the sand dunes healthy,but in true pony style my photo is dreadful.

A long time ago I used to photograph Jazz musicians as an occasional money making hobby. I did a lot of Jazz photography , I only occasionally made any money. It is extraordinarily difficult to take a flattering photograph of Jazz musicians, but that was a huge part of the pleasure. Sometimes hobbies are meant to be difficult. I was moderately successful and musicians can be fascinating people. Ponies on the other hand are equally difficult to take a flattering photograph, not particularly entertaining on a conversational level and would never put a hoof in their pockets no matter how good the photograph was. I’m not really certain why I pondered off to my photography past. Maybe while pondering off, I should ponder off on this skinny dipping habit. I’ve been doing it all my life. The Swimmer, a Burt Lancaster film, was the inspiration and yet at no time was Burt naked. I think he just inspired me to swim when the moment presents itself. Unlike Bert, my random acts of swimming never confront me with reflections of poor choices or relationship failures. If a black and white film on a Sunday is your thing I can recommend it.

The Swimmer https://g.co/kgs/PBZYyR

My parents thought my obsession with the film and the act of skinny dipping was a little odd but as true people of the 70’s did nothing to stop me.

And so it continues unchecked and so far I have never been caught out in any way.

Meanwhile back to Godrevy and the lighthouse.

#629 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach Life, SerendipityLeave a comment

A day that started calmly with a yoga class just carried on being tranquil. Leaving the park we found some lovely old and blistered painted gates.

Park Yoga Plymouth

.

The picture at the top of the blog was created using an image of the cracked paint superimposed on my foot imprint left on my yoga mat.

Even the weeds created a lovely colour contrast.

And the cracks, as they always do, charmed me.

The day continued in tranquil mode when we went for a swim at Tranquility Bay. It was perhaps less than tranquil because two men had set up a barbeque on the steps leading into the sea and were having a two man Ibiza style party with a sound system. But our swim was fabulous. The following photographs show all the activity that happened in a one hour stay at Tranquility Bay

The Ibiza barbeque party took a turn towards the mellow when Pavane by Gabriele Faure replaced European House Music. Accompanied by the exact same dance that had accompanied the dance music. The scores of regular swimmers good- naturedly accepted the aural and visual embellishments to their regular swimming zone. Both created a memorable afternoon of unplanned entertainment.

Pavane below to ease you into the week.

#547 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Beach LifeLeave a comment

A fresh and brief lunchtime blog. Knowing that I was delivering the dogs for a lunchtime pampering session at Wembury I planned for their second walk of the day to be at low tide on the beach.

So much messy fun to be had with a huge area of beach to scamper on and hunt for seaweed.

But even better fun to be had when an impressionable young pup could be chased at high speed.

Nobody needs to see the inside of my car once I could persuade them to leave the beach. I will have to clean it before I pick them up as pristine pooches in a few hours time.

This weeks, unintentional, low tide theme is proving to be fun.