Life's A Beach. The Driftwood Lectures...
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
13, MAY 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
Wednesday morning at 6-32 the beach day began.
Beach Buoy had been up most of the night.
It was overcast.
It wasn't raining as such.
Droplets just seemed to be hanging in the air.
A man in shorts walked the Esplanade.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the beach.
He could see just how low the tide was.
The wreck was on show once more.
He let the wreck be for now.
He collected five suitable stones as he and Another Dog headed south.
He paused to talk to Team One Black Ear.
They were heading back to the north.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple were well ahead on their searching way south.
The lady with a red coat and a brown dog called Jasper walked the dunes.
Jasper ran to the sea, she followed.
The lady stood looking out to sea for a good while.
Her dog looked at his paws in the shallows.
Beach Buoy shouldn't have a favourite Beach Crow but he does.
It's this one.
It's head is bigger than all of the others.
From a distance it looks like it had popped into Mac's Magic and purchased an Elvis wig.
He scattered some seeds for it.
Gulls and Crows searched twists of seaweed down by the sea.
The Sea Serpent surfaced in the bay.
The tide line was up to the random pipe.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the low level route.
Beach Buoy placed two sturdy stones on the sea defence.
A Gull passed overhead laughing.
"Hahaha."
It glided out to sea.
"Morning Mate."
It was 6-59.
Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
He scattered some seeds for the Stack Crows.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple went back to the north.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog made their way to the wreck.
The tide was out beyond the random pipe when they passed it a second time.
Beach Buoy knew the wreck would be more visible.
Team Muzzled Dog passed by
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Hiya."
Once Beach Buoy and Another Dog approached the north end of the dunes, the Little Terns could be heard.
Mr.Gunn/Lunn gave a returned distant wave as he and Excellent Dog Alfie joined the beach from the access ramp.
A Crow as big as a football landed in front of them.
It wanted breakfast.
Beach Buoy wasn't going to argue.
Seed was scattered.
The wreck today.
Slowly filling up with protective sand once more.
They headed back to the car park.
Parking is free until 9 a.m.
A Silver Sun tried to break through the cloud.
BEACH BUOY.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
12, MAY 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
It was 7-16 a.m.
It was overcast with a chilly breeze from the west.
The Beachcombing Border Collie Couple were just leaving.
The person who walks the Car Park Perimeter wired to sound was doing so.
A Windswept Twitcher returned to his car.
The Esplanade Cyclist passed by above them on the Esplanade as they headed down the beach access ramp.
"Morning!
"Morning."
The Little Terns chattered.
Dylan the Dog and owner were way to the south.
A Lady with with a Brown Doodle Dog walked the dunes edge and then the water's edge.
Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones as they made their way to the south.
Dylan and owner headed back.
"Morning."
"Morning, it's winter again."
A Lady walked south along the water's edge.
Sea wore one of those sea swimmer robes, long and camouflaged.
Phone in one hand, drink in the other.
She wandered to the dune edge and sat.
Another Dog stopped.
Let's be honest, it happens a lot.
Beach Buoy turned to see why.
A Jack Russell was stood about fifty metres away.
It stood like a statue.
As though it had been caught sneaking up for a sniff.
It reminded Beach Buoy of game they used to play on the streets of A block when he was a child.
Sly Fox.
The little dog returned to it's owner.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog made their way to the low level route.
He added two sturdy stones to the sea defence.
"Morning Mate."
It was 7-47.
Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
Other stones with names added had arrived.
As did another excellent Brakesy.
He had chosen driftwood over stone for this one.
So talented.
So kind.
Brakesy.
See his wonderful artwork via the link below.
He had a stand and think.
Spots of rain hit his cheek.
Beach Buoy scattered some seeds for the crows.
"See you mate."
They returned to the low level route.
Up ahead the camouflaged lady had set off north too.
She seemed to be using the height of the dune edge as shelter from the cold breeze?
As usual, Another Dog was on an extendable lead.
She won't come on command at all, not even in the house.
If she had her way or perhaps ideal birthday gift would a lead that extends from sofa to beach.
She would want the sofa end...
A man headed south.
His wooly hat and gloves were more suitable than the optimistic sunglasses that were pushed up on Beach Buoy's head
Back to the north.
The wreck was still on show.
The clouds above the village looked like they had been painted by an Artist.
An Artist who hadn't quite mastered how to capture clouds.
Not not Beach Buoy and his dog went by.
"Morning.'
"Alright now?"
"Champion."
He kicked a small ball for his dog to chase .
They turned at the start of the dunes back to the Esplanade as they always do.
Not not Beach Buoy.
If he wears his Orange coat, he his
Not Beach Buoy.
In civvies he is not not.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed back to the car park.
They passed the Little Terns nest site as they did so.
BEACH BUOY.
Monday, 11 May 2026
11, MAY 2026. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.
Monday morning.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog parked up
at 6-41 a.m.
The Little Terns were silent, grounded by the strong wind from the north.
They headed to the beach.
Beach Buoy collected five suitable stones.
Sunshine and shadows traded places as clouds rushed by.
Beach Buoy carried Another Dog over a defined strip of shifting sand that snaked along from north to south.
The clouds were dramatic, the wind was fresh.
Rain travelled southwards as it fell out at sea.
A dog walker headed north along the water's edge.
He leant into the headwind.
The rainfall seemed to come ashore at the other side of the river?
The north.
The south.
The tide was out enough to expose the random pipe.
It was taking a bit of a battering.
As was South Gare Pier.
A Gull hung in the strong wind.
Beach Buoy checked back to the north.
They made their way to the low level route.
Beach Buoy added two sturdy stones to the base of the small slope.
"Morning Mate."
It was 7-04.
The usual thirty minutes walk was done in just over twenty.
It was wind assisted.
The threat of a soaking out a spring in their step.
Beach Buoy added the five suitable stones.
He patted
THE
stone.
They didn't hang around too long.
There was a chance of a soaking on the way back.
"See you mate."
They returned to the low level route.
Way to the north Team Muzzled Dog walked to the water's edge.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the water's edge too.
No shifting sand off the sea to worry about.
Team Muzzled Dog passed by.
"Morning."
"Morning."
The Lady who walks the full length of the beach passed by shortly afterwards.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Another band of rain travelled south along the horizon.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog dawdled along.
They had forever.
They made their way to the beach access ramp.
The Lady who walks the full length of the beach, headed back to the north.
Up on The Esplanade, a man multitasked.
He jogged as he pushed a Pram.
BEACH BUOY.
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