Beach Buoy woke at 4-04 a.m.
He made coffee.
He drew.
5 o'clock came.
6 o'clock came.
Beach Buoy made coffee to go.
"Beach?"
Another Dog looked up from the sofa before running to the top of the stairs to hide.
She loves the beach, just hates getting ready!
By 6-50 a.m. they were sat in the beach car park, waiting for daylight.
Beach Buoy lit the van's Propex heater.
He drank coffee .
From the darkness of the promenade a lit, swinging torch travelled south.
A man walked briskly, his torch grip tightly in a swinging hand, making the beam rise and fall as he progressed along the promenade.
Two cyclists travelled first south along the promenade, then northwards, back to the village.
They set off in not quite half light.
It was 7-20 a.m.
The sand had a thin crispy layer of frost on it's surface.
It broke under foot.
The sea looked to be a silvery blue with a blood orange backdrop.
As yet, unseen Gulls cried.
A dog-less man overtook them as they began to head towards the strand-line.
It was 7-48 a.m. when they left the sea behind.
They reached Stubborn Dog Stack at 7-59.
The sandy slope had a layer of frost.
The frost gave Beach Buoy a little purchase as he climbed the steep access to the dunes, beach stones in-hand.
He still ended up looking like Mrs. Overall as she carried a tray of tea cups into the staff of Acorn Antiques.
"Morning Mate."
Beach Buoy patted
THE
stone.
Beach Buoy stood watching a sea that was breaking three or four waves out.
A cold breeze blew onto his back.
"See you mate.
The beach waited for the Sun to clear the hills.
A Cormorant flew northwards , close to the sea like an expertly skimmed stone.
A jogger ran by.
It was the man who looked as if he was on the run.
Not on a run.
God bless him thought Beach Buoy, the man covers some miles.
The sea pulled out like a theatre curtain.
Let the Boxing Day pantomime begin.
Enter stage left...
Hugo came bounding over.
Beach Buoy greeted the dog warmly.
The dog's owner came over.
It was the distant wave lady.
They chatted about Christmas, dogs, winter solstice and bonfires on the dune edge.
They went their separate ways.
Beach Buoy was pleased for the Distant Wave Lady.
She has the the south of the beach and the sunrise to herself.
