Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach car park
at 10-30 a.m.
The early morning regulars will have been and gone, if they had come at all.
Unfamiliar faces with unfamiliar dogs walked the beach that Beach Buoy knew like the back of his hand.
All were welcome.
The beach was busy considering the fact that it was Christmas Day.
There was a selection.
The Couples, the family groups, together for Christmas and loners too.
There was a lovely light.
Maybe the sunlight was a factor in the beach being quite busy?
Some walked in the shelter of the dune edge.
Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed for the strand line.
The air was chilled.
There was a slight breeze from the south.
The sea was rough.
The horizon looked as if it had been sketched whilst riding pillion on a motorcycle.
The tide looked to be about as far in as it was out.
They headed south.
The warmer sea steamed to the south in the ice cold air.
A relative who worked as a Foy boatman had once said that in winter whilst pulling ship's ropes, they would plunge their hands into the sea as it was warmer than the air.
Even though he was wearing gloves, Beach Buoy's finger ends were cold.
Nowhere near as a cold as a Foy boatman's back in the day.
They had walked less than half the beach when the Sun slipped into cloud.
The sea instantly looked rougher.
Greys and Silver replaced blue.
Beach Buoy collected some stones for
Stubborn Dog Stack.
There was a figure up on the dunes, near the stack; a lady with two dogs.
Beach Buoy paused down on the beach to allow her own space.
She started to head south.
Beach Buoy headed for the dunes .
Once up in the dunes, he headed for the stack.
The lady was ahead, beyond the stack.
She seemed to be searching her pockets for something?
Beach Buoy saw a Pink Mobile phone laid in the dune sand to the left of him.
"Have you lost your Mobile?"
"Thank you."
she said as she approached to collect the phone.
She turned and walked away.
After a few steps she turned and said.
"Oh and Merry Christmas by the way."
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Mate."
It was the first since he had gone.
Beach Buoy placed three stones on the stack.
He patted
THE
stone.
A family group passed by on the beach below, oblivious to the stack and it's significance.
Beach Buoy looked out to sea and people watched for a while.
"See you Mate, miss you."
They headed back down onto the beach.
The chilly breeze was on their backs now.
A Seaton Carew Christmas.
They can be magical.
They can be sad.
They can be lonely.
It can be the best of days it can be the worst too.
BEACH BUOY.
