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Yesterday afternoon at Hockey’s Farm shop, a clutch of bantam chickens basked atop their coop.
Others, now identified by Bruce Goodman as Sussex, stabbed at a swinging cauliflower.
I trust they will forgive me for having forgotten them.
With winds at 57 miles an hour and more than 60 m.p.h. gusts, we were drawn to visit Milford on Sea this afternoon
for a look at the waves.
The Isle of Wight sailed along the horizon
beneath the sliver-lined clouds.
A couple walked along the renewed promenade above the replacement beach huts;
against the sides of which sea foam slapped and rolled up the steps to the beach.
A number of other photographers fought the winds
as they captured the blustery elements, or each other.
Jackie watched this elderly person leaning on the bench and taking in the sea air for quite some time. She thought the woman was enjoying the activity rather more than her younger companions.
This young man
enjoyed testing himself against the gusts;
a bedraggled dog hung its head;
and a couple struggled across the car park.
Some more sensible souls, operated their cameras from the safety of their cars.
This young woman laughed uproariously when I called her chicken.
Having an inkling that I might get a bit wet,
I leaned into the wind, spray lashing my face and my camera, and advanced to the sea wall as the waves came in from the Solent,
crashing over the wall
and me.
Soaked to the skin, I acknowledged that my friend in her car had really been very wise. This amused her even more. Back at home I changed into dry clothes.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s sublime lemon chicken; sautéed new potatoes, onions, and mange touts; and crunchy carrots and broccoli, with which I drank Ebeia Ribera del Duero 2015 from which Jackie abstained.
Great waves!! I’d have been out there with you Derrick. I love to stand head into the wind and watch the waves dance. <3
Many thanks, Pauline. That would have been good.
Thank you for braving the weather to bring us those great photos 🙂
Many thanks, Mary
Great photos, Derrick. I’m in Hastings today and got caught up in Storm Brian too. Had hail as well and umbrellas were useless in the fierce wind.
Thanks, Roland. I trust you were unscathed
Needed a long rest afterwards but counted it as an exhilarating experience.
Fantastic photos, Derrick!
Many thanks, Jill
Gee, Derrick, I’m sorry sometimes that I don’t live near the water anymore. I sometimes miss moments like those caught by your camera.
Thanks very much, Frank. We are very lucky to live where we do – sea one side, and forest the other.
I’m a lover of the sea, and it’s wondrous forces, and you’ve captured the crashing, smashing waves beautifully.
Many thanks, Ivor. An opportunity too good to miss
I love the ocean most when it’s stormy and furious. Nice photos.
Thanks very much, Steve
One does not tempt the waters without a full set of waterproof gear on 😀 so your photos are doubly appreciated.
🙂 Many thanks, Widders. Winds coming across from the Isle of Wight were 87 m.p.h.
The unnamed chicken breed stabbing at the cauliflower are Sussex!
Many thanks, Bruce. Have amended text.
Thanks Derrick. I’ve always had chickens and could be classified as a chicken-obsessive maniac. I had Coronation Sussex (grey instead of spotted necks) in honour of the Queens anniversary, until the roosters almost attacked me and loved ones to death.
🙂
Methinks perhaps the words to Noel Cowards song “Mad dogs and Englishmen” need revision, going by all the galahs out in that weather taking photographs.
Quite, Brian. Me included. Many thanks.
The chicken basking atop their coops, ensconced within the cage, present a foil to what will unfold further in the post culminating in the bedraggled dog hanging his head in resignation (a picture not very different from the state I am presently in). The motif is repeated in the exchange between you and the lady in the car. It is nice to see people battling the elements for sheer fun and photography. I am happy you chose to step out rather than chicken out.
Thanks very much, Uma, for your usual careful analysis, and your apt quip at the end. I am sorry to learn about your identification with the dog.
I love how you captured the wave, beautiful! Wow, the wind…
Many thanks, Amy. Mostly the waves captured me 🙂
Wow, some wonderful photos there, Derrick. You and Jackie were very daring to be by the sea in weather like that. I’m not surprised you got a trifle wet! All in the name of getting good photos…! I love the sea and its many moods. It was certainly throwing a strop on that day. Perhaps someone had called it ‘chicken’! Lol. Great choice of title for this post.
Very many thanks, Millie. Serendipitous that I forgot the bantams the day before
The sea is always fascinating 🙂 Wonderful photos Derrick 🙂
Many thanks, Lakshmi
What a storm that was, Derrick. I could almost say getting soaked was worth that picture, though…
Oh, it was worth it, Lisa. It was. Many thanks
Excellent photos of the waves, Derrick!
Many thanks, Clare
Commendations on fronting the wilds of the element for your photographs Derrick, I must agree with the stance taken by the woman in the car, to blustery for me.
Thanks a lot, Ian
Wonderful shots
Thanks very much, Beatriz
I never realized that braving the winds and watching the waves was such a popular activity. Thank you for braving the elements to capture these splendid shots.
Very many thanks, Merril. I have never seen the clifftop so crowded.
Your friend was right, indeed! I don’t blame her for staying in the car. Sorry, Derrick; I giggled a little when I read you got soaked. 😊
You were meant to giggle, Persia. 🙂 Many thanks
The wind blows wild on the shore. The Solent looks like it might generate the kind of waves we call “sneaker” waves on the coast here, waves that can suddenly grab one and haul one out to sea. Beautiful pictures Derrick, especially the black & white which captures the mood of weather nicely.
Very many thanks, Lavinia
Great wave photos, from my inland safety I have to agree – a soaking was a small price to pay for some great shots. 🙂
Very many thanks, Quercus