MONDAY 29 NOV. 2021. SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. A DAY OFF

Beach Buoy was having a day off.

The Van was going into the garage for a new starter motor 

at 9 a.m.

It was 5-10 a.m.

usually work o'clock.

Beach Buoy had been awake a while.

He headed downstairs as Another Dog bounced around.

He made a milky coffee and toast.

Another Dog sat on the sofa alongside Beach Buoy as he ate his breakfast.

It was 7-10 a.m. when they reached the beach car park.

The surface was rutted with frozen tyre tracks.

Beach Buoy turned on the van's colourful fairy lights and the new white ones too.

These aren't just a Christmas thing.

Beach Buoy likes lights.

Beach Buoy drank coffee from a thermal mug as the sky to the south gave a hint of peach colour.

Three silhouettes  were down at the water's edge heading south.

It was the 7 a.m. club, looking like the three wise men, following yonder sunrise.

Even in the half light it looked cold.

The three wise men headed back to the north.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed out onto the Icy Promenade, like Seaton Carew's answer to Torvill and Dean.

It was 7-27 a.m.

They headed down the access ramp with the sound of Bolero playing in Beach Buoy's head.

A C Moon hung over the still frozen dune edge.

The tide was well out.

There was a slight but icy breeze from the north west.

"To the Moon Alice!"

The Honeymooners.

The sound of a distant train rumbled onto the beach, sounding like a helicopter, its track the cold fresh morning air.

Crows patrolled the strand-line like Beach Constables.

The Gulls just seemed to stand at the water's edge complaining about the police presence.

A Magpie flew in.

Officer Sorrow from the NYPD.

Back up.

The sea was choppy.

Waves were breaking just after the Sea Serpent Marker.

They headed up towards the dunes.

"Morning Mate."

Beach Buoy patted 

THE 

stone.

He added more.

He stood a while with his old mate alongside his new one.

"See you Mate."

"Might not be back for a few days."

😔💧

They headed off together, alone.

Back to the beach....

Light was increasing minute by minute.

Bit by Bit.

A Sea Pottery Wave.

Pebbles with legs ran around like children playing a game of dare with the sea.

 

The light was gorgeous.

Not a hint of heat, in all that sun.

A man lit a match over in Redcar, it warmed Seaton Carew more.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog sent their sunshine shadows on ahead to put the kettle on in the van.

The sun faded.

It disappeared behind a creamy cloud.

The sunshine shadows never did make it.

A drink of coffee in the van.

Then they had to fly.

BEACH BUOY.