October - It's summer!

As a nation we can be observed to be obsessive about our weather and climate; this being because it's versatile, changeable and downright unpredictable - well the latter, to the uneducated weather-wise it is!

So we may be forgiven for assuming that nature's clock is a tad out of phase and that, given today is 12 October, we should be clothed in garments of a warming capability and not, as worn today, thin clothing and bare arms down on the beach!

This morning the mist clothed all growing (and static) beings in droplets of water and rendered gazing into the distance (as in "It's 6.14 a.m. and I've just woken up; can't open my eyes fully" phenomenon) entirely impossible.

So a while later with eyes now functioning adequately I drove through the shrouds of the all enclosing mist down south to my mother's for the day. Within a couple of miles of her village, the veils lifted to reveal Lady Sun in all her glory lighting the final few miles.

Having arrived in brilliant sunshine, we fuelled ourselves with coffee and headed off for some grocery shopping on our way out.

We lunched on sandwiches, apples juice and the most wicked apple pie and cream in the cafe at Marine Gardens in Worthing and then after all that excessive activity, we sat on the beach (or rather on seating provided to view the beach!).

Now, as one would assume quite correctly, the south coast faces the sun. But the sparkling of the sea was too good an opportunity to miss - photographically. There was no wind so no wind surfers to capture on this occasion, but a dinghy race was in progress and one lone jet-skier skimmed across the surface.

Having enjoyed the wonderful sunshine we headed west and eventually came through one of my favourite valleys and a road (Long Furlong) on our way back home.

Today I discovered another gap in my photography know-how - how do you take pics directly into the sun and get good results? When I know, the following pics will be much improved on - I hope.

Dinghy racing in progress

A few gulls - gliding...

Sparkling water as the tide recedes

A jet skier in an open sea

A breakwater (or groin) who's gentle curves lead the eye into the briny!

A welcome shelter in the winter and today providing shade from the sun!

This is one of my favourite roads in West Sussex - as the views are spectacular. This is Long Furlong. It's a road that follows the gentle curves of the hillside and valley. The colours of the landscape constantly change - almost weekly - as this is principally farming and cattle land. We were travelling to the A24 but the view is greatest in the opposite direction (provided the light is right of course!)

This sequence takes the eye from right to left




and finally, a trip around Mum's garden