The Wind Gets Up

Having now reached episode 7 of The Crown series 2, we have decided that enough is more than enough. There is too much intrusive invention for our liking.

This morning I visited Sears Barbers for Peter to cut my hair. Knowing that later today we would be in for a storm which I believe has been named Brendan, we left home an hour early to watch a clear blue sky constantly changing as the relentless wind whipped the waves, scudded the clouds, and precipitated driving rain.

As we approached the coast, passing the White House perched against the indigo skies,

a lichen covered thorn hedge gave testimony to the purity of the nevertheless untamed air.

Even just after 9.30 a.m. the coast road was devoid of daylight

as dark clouds dominated.

A few dog walkers hastened along

beneath skies changing by the minute.

Some gulls struggled on the thermals,

while others hunkered down on the car park tarmac;

I do hope it was a piece of bread that this one gathered up for breakfast.

The waves were simply choppy at first,

but soon increased in ferocity.

The rain was brief but did send me back into the car before we moved further along the coast where

surging spray pounded the sea walls

their cream-laden fingers grasping at

the sturdy breakwaters.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s particularly spicy pasta arrabbiata and tender runner beans with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Concha y Toro Casilliero del Diablo 2017.

 

98 comments

  1. Great photos! I wished I’d gone to Aberystwyth yesterday to catch the waves breaking against the sea wall. It was quite rough here in Mid Wales by the time I headed home from work.

  2. It’s pretty rough up here too. Though nothing like it is in Scotland and N Ireland. I believe it is working its way down, so not looking forward to later tonight when it really hits. Let’s hope it lessens in ferocity by the time it reaches you.

  3. Hi D – your photos are spectacular (I used that word on purpose – the water and the details in some – so nice for a photo shoot)
    and then the content seemed to subtly match the words you had about the movie series The Crown – added intrusive invention….
    the words here – like “unarmed air” – “darkened” “skies changing” – and little details – even like ” ferocity” kind o just fit into the reason you stopped watching – do you know what I mean?
    either way – wishing you and J a nice day

      1. Oh yes – In fact I prefer to research each episode either right before or after I watch it to fact check. They do take some liberties for sure!

  4. Fine pictures–quite a stormy day! We had “King Tides” on the west coast of Oregon and the sea ran up the beachfront streets…I believe this will happen tow more times this year. I did not get there to see it, but perhaps just as well!

        1. So of course, as soon as I say I have not heard of it, I heard about this King Tide on the news, and sadly that two children died after being swept in. I thank you for mentioning it and putting this story on my radar.

  5. Beautiful and exciting photos. The surging, milky, churning water makes a beautiful picture. You captured it well. The silhouettes of the gulls were so artistic. Also I loved the strip of light that escaped onto the water through a hole in an unseen cloud.

  6. How is Peter doing?
    Your descriptive words and awesome photos make me feel the weather there!
    (((HUGS)))
    We made homemade chili…3 kinds of beans, 3 kinds of peppers, onions, tomatoes, tomato sauce and some spices. It made my nose run…sign of good chili! 😉

  7. Wonderful photos, Derrick–and prose, as well. One of the choppy seas photos looks like pen and ink or some sort of print. I would enjoy particularly spicy pasta arrabbiata . 🙂

  8. What a description of the arriving storm and your photos are amazing. In particular the one of the clouds and sea with that little strip of light is astonishing. I hope there was no damage.

  9. The photos look sepia – was that the weather or intentional? Either way I enjoyed looking at the seagulls. Yes, hopefully it was bread!

  10. I think you have to accept a bit of fiction in a series such as the Crown. My history professor at University always gave the advice not to believe anything you see or read without challenging. Mother is staying with me this week and we are well into series three.

    I was once lucky enough to get an invite to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. It remains one of the best days of my life…

    https://apetcher.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/royal-tea-party/

  11. I just started watching the series again, after you began mentioning it here. So far only to the end of Season 1, and Churchill’s retirement & birthday. I have also begun series in the past that I wanted to enjoy, but found after a while that I could not continue. I get it. I’m curious about how it will feel with new actors…if I can hang in that long.

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