NEW YEARS EVE. 2021.SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL.

Beach Buoy woke at 5-15 a.m.

He made a coffee.

He went to the computer and wrote a blogpost about life and how people view themselves.

It was posted.

It was read by a few people then as predicted deleted.

Gone.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park

 at 

7-55 a.m.

The tide was well out.

There was mild wind blowing from the south west.

Beach Buoy headed for the strand line.

As he and Another Dog headed south he scattered recent finds along the beach for others to find, should they want them?

Another man in another orange coat, left the water's edge and headed for the dunes.

He had another dog, not to be confused with Another Dog.

The north end of the beach was quiet.

A lady with two dogs, one white, one black headed towards the village.

They continued south.

The beach ahead was deserted apart from a couple of Crows, walking the strand line like a couple of nightclub bouncers.

Beach Buoy gathered seven stones for 

Stubborn Dog Stack.

"Morning Mate."

he placed the beach stones on the stack.

He patted 

THE

stone.

He stood and realised from tomorrow 

Stubborn Dog will have 

"Died last year."

not

"Died in May."

It felt like a few more strands of the chord had been cut.

Beach Buoy's eyes stung and watered.

He wiped the tears with his fingers.

he touched 

THE 

stone.

The tears left a damp patch.

He wanted Stubborn Dog to know that he cared.

"See you Mate."

They returned to the beach.

Beach Buoy stood and watched as a ship prepared to enter to the river.

Tugs waited to guide the vessel into Port.

They walked as far as  North Gare Pier.

They headed back.

A rouge member of the 7 a.m. club came along armed with dog treats.

Another Dog was over the moon.

Mr Gunn/ Nunn was next on the beach conveyor belt.

They chatted from a short distance.

Alfie, his Dog came over to say hello.

"See you, enjoy your walk."

"You too."

They headed off.

The 

"Sorry Mate." Brown Spaniel  appeared.

His owner came over.

"Sorry Mate."

"It's fine, Dogs being dogs."

The brown dog was friendly.

"Enjoy your walk."

"You too."

They headed off.

A man headed south on the water's edge with what looked like a white wolf for company.

Hugo, the Distant Wave Lady's dog was bounding about the beach.

His owner was heading south on the water's edge.

She waved as she passed.... from a distance.

Beach Buoy raised an arm from up on the strand line.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL , THURSDAY, 30 DEC 2021 .

Beach Buoy had been due to go a football match on Wednesday night.

The match was called off; Tranmere had covid in the camp.

He would have been stood on a windy terrace wondering when half time was when he finally gave in and went to bed.

Dark Nights 5 v Beach Buoy 0.

He woke at 3-08 a.m.

He knew there would be no more sleep.

Up.

Milky Coffee.

He went to the small study and began drawing a project.

A workmate had asked for a specific drawing for use on something he plans to sell.

"A commission."

said the workmate.

2% of sales as payment.

He wanted it doing in Beach Buoy's, shall we say 

"Unique" style.

It passed the time and was completed.

Beach Buoy will hand it over on his return to work.

 

Beach Buoy made another coffee and moved an armchair right near to the fire.

Another Dog squeezed in the gap.

She doesn't usually bother with the fire, she tends to sleep near the front door.

She seemed to just want to be near her matey; Beach Buoy.

Or possibly just check if he had anything to eat?

They waited for light to come...

They reached the beach car park at 7-47 a.m.

There was a mild breeze from the west.

An 05 registered Subaru  was parked across a few parking bays.

The windows were down.

The music was up.

They headed for the sea.

The tide was well out.

The sound of a distant pile-driver drifted across the beach.

An Olympic Bay lay ahead; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Two Joggers passed heading north.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked the water's edge.

The south end of the beach was theirs for now.

They had the sea, the sky and.... yay!

The Sea Serpent was back from his Scotland trip.

Change in the covid rules must have made him head back early?

Beach Buoy watched the creature for a short while.

Beach Buoy was glad that he was home safe to celebrate 

Frogmanay .

They headed towards 

Stubborn Dog Stack.

Beach Buoy picked up seven suitable beach stones to add to the stack.

"Morning Mate."

He placed the beach stones in any suitable gaps that he could see.

He patted

THE 

stone.

Beach Buoy stood with one dog and memories of another.

"See you Mate."

They headed back to the beach.

The tide was out enough to allow a beach walk to North Gare Pier.

They did so.

They passed The Sea Serpent Marker.

He had just completed a long trip so must have been having a nap on the seabed?

They crossed over the Pier.

They walked the river edge.

A lady appeared. 

She was wearing a long dark trench coat .

Her Labrador trotted alongside in his cream coloured coat.

There was lots of useful looking driftwood scattered around this morning.

Another Labrador sporting a cream coat came into view.

His owner's coat was Blue.

The sun came out.

It was glorious.

The dune grass was radiant.

The man in the blue and the Dog in cream walked back along the North Gare Pier.

a.k.a.

Unsafe structure.

Beach Buoy waited to capture a suitable photograph of the event.

They left The River Tees behind for now...

They crossed over 

the North Gare Pier.

It was a glorious mild morning. 

A distant 9 a.m. site buzzer drifted across the river as if to say farewell?

Sunshine shadows guided them back to Seaton Sands Beach.

They had a slow walk back.

They met a man with a Brown Spaniel.

It was the "Sorry Mate." man from yesterday.

They chatted briefly.

Beach Buoy carried on to the north.

They climbed the access ramp.

Mr Gunn/ Nunn was walking from the north, having completed his circular walk with his little Dog Alfie.

There was no sign of his orange coat

The weather was too mild for that!

He had chosen a suitable jacket but even that must have been too warm as he had taken it off.

It was draped over an arm.

Mr Gunn/Nunn waved with his free hand from a distance.

Beach Buoy waved back.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. 29 DEC 2021.

For the last few days, a look out of an early morning window would only offer a choice of grey.

This morning a glance to the east showed an orange glow.

It looked promising.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park

 at 7-39 a.m.

The  sky to the south was a mass of colour.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for the beach. 

A jogger, dressed in orange ran the length of the Promenade, then headed back again.

The Silhouettes  of the 7 a.m. club were already walking back to the north, down by the water's edge.

There was a slight breeze from the south but it carried a chilly bite.

The colours of the sky seemed to be extra gorgeous 

Beach Buoy was drawn to the water's edge.

A figure and a dog passed along the dune edge heading North.

It was Dotty Dog and her owner.

She waved from a distance.

Beach Buoy wondered momentarily if the distant wave lady had been doing on-line courses?

Beach Buoy waved back in the half light wondering if his technique was up to the required standard?

They headed for 

Stubborn Dog Stack.

He added some beach stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

"Morning Mate."

Two painted stones had turned up.

Beach Buoy gathered them up.

He would take them to have a better look at them before returning them on his next visit to the stack.

Here they are below.....

He stood drinking coffee as he watched a ship enter the river via The Gares, before making a move.

"See you Mate."

The colourful sky was fading.

The sun was unable to show up in person this morning.

Orange changed into Peach and then to Grey.

They headed back.

A Brown Spaniel came to say hello.

The owner followed in hot pursuit

"Sorry Mate."

"Its O.K." answered Beach Buoy.

They chatted about their Dogs, then went their separate ways.

Next Dog to appear was Chocolate Pudding,

Her owner stood chatting for a while , then  they too were gone.

Mr Gunn / Nunn waved from a distance.

Beach Buoy wondered once more......

Beach Buoy waved back.

Mr Gunn/Nunn's dog came trotting over.

A sniff and he was off after an Orange clad Mr Gunn/ Nunn.

Another man dressed in Orange headed down the access ramp with his two dogs.

If there was any tripping up to be done today, one of these orange dressed fellows could be a stunt double for Beach Buoy.

Spots of rain began to fall.

They speeded up.

There was a nice silver VW in the car park....

 Beach Buoy sat snuggly, listening to the rain on the roof of the white van.

They had almost timed it perfectly...

Almost.

BEACH BUOY.

HER FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH.

 Her first football match.

An hour before kick off.

Beach Buoy likes to arrive early.

"Is the other team called United too?"

asked Another Dog.

"There's only one United ."

answered Beach Buoy.

"Did you remember the Dog treats?"

asked Another Dog.

"No, I forgot.

 It's OK, I will buy you a Hot Dog to eat."

"A Hot Dog !"

exclaimed Another Dog.

"It's a sausage in a bun, not a real Dog."

explained Beach Buoy.

"Oh good." 

said a relieved Another Dog.

BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL, 28 DEC 2021.

Beach Buoy was awake early, very early.

It was foggy and it was raining.

Beach Buoy waited and waited.

It didn't seem to be getting any lighter.

After a  long wait they finally drove to the beach

 car park at 8-08 a.m.

Beach Buoy looked at the weather.

Beach Buoy looked at the recently washed and blow-dried Dog.

One plus one equalled three.

"Nope, not this morning."

Beach Buoy started up the old van and headed off.

Beach Buoy checked the weather forecast.

There may be a window of opportunity later.

LATER.

The fog had thinned out a little.

The rain had stopped

The edges of the bay were still lost in grey.

The window of opportunity  was now officially open.

Beach Buoy locked the van.

He and Another Dog headed for the access ramp.

Two Horses were coming up the ramp to leave the beach behind.

Beach Buoy picked up his little mate and stepped aside to let the riders know the route was theirs.

A family played just beyond the ramp as though it was a summers day.

A summer's day with winter coats.

Mother and daughter were busy making a line of sand castles.

Father and son were in the process of  starting a football match.

Two sets of goalposts had been positioned.

Each goalpost was a perfectly formed sand castle.

Dad drew out the markings of the pitch with a dragged heel.

The game started with Dad doing the commentary for the match too.

"Dad on the attack now, he goes down the wing, he's fouled.

Free kick!

The ref shows a yellow card"

"It's not a yellow Dad.

Dad, it's not a yellow card.

But Dad it's not a yellow card."

To be honest Beach Buoy was so tempted to put a finger to his ear and join in saying.

VAR says

"No yellow Card, He got the ball first."

But these days you can't be too careful.

He just walked on.

There was shingle ahead.

A search ensued.

Beach Buoy looked back to the north.

A  few people around, but still plenty of space for all.

A Dad and lad approached with a lovely, unusual Brown Border Collie on a lead.

It was clear that Another Dog and the Collie wanted to say 

"Hi."

The Dad explained that his dog was so nervous.

That they came to the beach most days.

They talked about Dogs.

"See you, nice to chat."

"Yes, nice to meet you."

They headed off in different directions.

The past few days had been so dull and grey that even a slightly different shade with  a gunmetal grey sea,  almost looked colourful.

A large family group were heading back to the north.

They were strung out like a line of Police looking for a murder weapon.

A  lady in red stood out of the way slightly behind the dune edge waiting for them to pass.

They passed.

The lady in red  headed south.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for 

Stubborn  Dog Stack.

"Afternoon Mate."

Beach Buoy placed some beach stones onto the stack.

He patted 

THE

stone.

The lady in red was in the distance, heading for the Pier.

By the time they said 

"See you mate."

The lady in red was heading back to the north.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog walked towards the Pier.

The light seemed to change.

For a few moments the gunmetal grey sea seemed to turn bottle green.

The Sea Serpent marker looked glorious in the strange but short-lived light.

The Gares and a Gull.

North Gare Pier is the nearest with South Gare in the distance.

Some say that South Gare is actually farther north than North Gare, due to its length ?

They had a mooch around the tank traps at North Gare Corner.

They headed back.

There was no rush.

A family walked the water's edge.

A young boy led the way.

He squeaked a squeaky dog toy as he did so.

Their dog was second in line, keen to grab the toy.

A man with two dogs was just ahead.

The dogs were both King Charles Spaniels.

King Charles the first looked happier than Larry the third with a Tennis Ball held tightly in his mouth.

King Charles the second wasn't as chuffed.

"He's lost his ball."

explained the owner.

"It'll wash up again." said Beach Buoy.

"Aye."

His highness came over as if to check if Beach Buoy or Another Dog had the ball in question.

They didn't.

 A curtain of drizzle began to fall.

Time to climb back through that window of opportunity,        back into the van.

Back to reality..... for now at least 

😉

BEACH BUOY.