About words and signs

I am an Artist and Writer, living and working in London. I am grateful for all the things I have been able to do in my life and for what I am doing now. I serve Christ and seek to share Him with others…

Birling Gap Seven Sisters East Sussex

Posted on July 26, 2012 by words and signs

White heat reflected on the giant cliffs, contrasting against the green-blue sea. A beach of flint-like rocks made it quite painful to wade through the water and the shallows seemed murky with small green fronds of weed floating randomly just below the surface.

Once in the water, it was a speedy journey out to the depth, where that sea was clearer, cooler and free of other swimmers. From that vantage point the complete vista of the Seven Sisters, sweeping round to Beachy head, built a solid walls of defence around the entire coastline.

The water was a great refief after the relentless beating of the hot sun, with no shade and extra glare from the white rocks all around. The only escape is the cool, deep water and the desire to stay forever.

The day was finished with a long swim, striking out, parallel to the long convoluted coastline towards the farthest rock face we could go, remebering that we also had to swim back again. It is hard to leave the freshness of the water, and return to the stufling city streets.

West beach, Littlehampton, West Sussex

Posted on July 23, 2012 by words and signs

As the train neared the sea, it made the wait seem monotonous, but the cloudless sky and sunshine brought holiday zephires.

The brown stones of the beach and the voluminous sea-green water called out to enter and swim, with no other encouragement. Casting out into the deep brought a minor shock of cold, like a trouble that doesn’t last. The salt, the foam and the gentle swell swaddled the body, to rock into sleep and rest weary city muscles, for as long as possible.

Diving brought the sea floor closer than expected, and the churning hidden forces, chop up the seabed, so that all vision is murky.

Swimming to the right, away from the Arun estury was easy, relaxing and quick, but to turn back meant effort and small progress for out lay. The current was powerful and the long dyke kept the worst of it from sweeping swimmers away.

Calm, confident and comforting…

Pevensey Bay East Sussex

Posted on May 9, 2012 by words and signs

A shimmer of distant fog hovered on the far horizon as we made our way across the small brown stones that made up the long shallow beach. The threat of rain saturated the air and a biting wind nipped at our exposed faces. At this point the question of whether I would make it into my swimsuit and down into the churning brown water, remained unanswered.

At even intervals, long wooden groynes keep the stones from being washed into one corner of the beach, and I used the steady surface to give me courage to enter the water. The stones gave way under my feet and I was glad of rubber socks to protect my skin.

There is no time for procrastination, and wading into the water, I launched immediately out into the salty depths. Almost at once, I was out of reach of the bottom, and the heaving sea bore me out into its embrace, and the body was kept buoyant despite the seeming roughness of the swell.

Healthy fear is good, and the sea is no grovelling beast to any human invention, therefore enjoy but remember what it can do. I am definitely in the weakest position and decisions are made with respect to this mighty power.

I leave the water and go back three times. It draws me in, that feeling of weightlessness and delight, that blots out all worry and stress and reminds you that you have been made by one greater than you could ever understand. I have to leave, as cold and time overcome the agenda, and reluctantly return to the car, get dressed and back to home.

The question is answered – that cold cannot stop the attraction to enter the water, and the drive to persevere in enjoying the sensations, of what the body can feel and endure. The world was made for us.

Seaford: South Downs coast

Posted on April 16, 2012 by words and signs

The sea sparkled as the fresh April sunshine caught the ripples, like lines of tiny mirrors, twinkling back to the blue sky. Huge Cumulus clouds sat solidly overhead causing seasons of shade and deep green patches on the sea, like hidden depths of creatures with unknown origins.

I walked and slid down the brown banks of small stones, steeply built up by the washing waves. It took some time to get into the wetsuit, as I had not been out in the wild for three months, and was not sure how my mind and body would cope with the cold.

The beach descends steeply into the water, and in a few short steps, I was swimming. The sun shone intermittently as I swam out of my depth in four strokes, and the pleasure of swimming in an emerald green and azure expanse, was overwhelming. The sea melds with the beep blue sky and I felt at home.

After fifteen minutes I shed my selkie skin and took to the deep in my own skin, where I was able to feel the water and the freedom of feeling cold, using the power of my own muscles to slip through that amazing medium of water.

The chalky cliffs stand as a wall defence between the land and ocean, giving the appearance of a circle of earth, dipping down under the horizon. I image swimming out there and what it would be like to be in the sea, with no prospect of even seeing the land. I can swim out so far, but the call of those darkened depths is one I ignore.

The Serpentine London

Posted on September 2, 2011 by words and signs

A man-made snake-like lake, with a cordond off area for swimming, demarkated by white plastic floats. The water is dark-brown with a greenish, blue shimmer from the surface. The water is lightened by sunshine, which also encourages the growth of the brown algae and the slippery growth on the concrete floor.

The glorious sun made the swimming more joyful and light-hearted, than when the sun disappears and the water becomes cold and very dark.

But the hot day and the long journey, brought a welcome from the cold water, and refreshment and relief for the journey home on the crowded bus.

Canada geese, coots, moorhens, swans, waders and even… a dragonfly.

Tooting Bec Lido London

Posted on September 1, 2011 by words and signs

A ribbon of sparkling light stretches ahead and draws me towards the sun. The gleaming band increases in brightness as I swim into deeper water and the crystal depths become turquoise and green.

The cold purifies the thought and emotion and holds the body weightless and motionless in its grasp. A mere turn of the hand keeps the head upright above the ripples that would surely drag it down.

As I look upwards at the encircling trees, they are already changing brown. Nut brown leaves, the first of the crop, hover and twist in the liquid, the perfect accompaniment to the blue below and up.

Perpendicular, I hang in the cold, with muscles aching from the exertion and chilly waves, I realize that everyone needs a mountain to climb and an ocean to swim…

Hampstead Heath Ladies pond

Posted on August 31, 2011 by words and signs

Lost in a myriad of small well-worn lanes, I stumble across this treasure…

The dark, mysterious waters summon me to plunge in the depths, and taste the cold and earthy waters, that seep constantly through the soil and feed the Elvin edges of nature and water. I look uncertain and fearful, as the hidden depths are so far away and unknown.

The waters are cold and I cannot find the bottom, nor do I want to, but only think on the surface, which I can see and feel, and that are familiar. Trees, reed clumps, lily-pads and moss, all inhabit the space and make it seem from another time-dimension, where the calendar passes without notice, and the body is held in a snapshot of watery glory.

My limbs look deep brown, as they stretch out, even though they are not far under the surface, as they are transformed by the algae, that purify and freshens the pool, so that no man-made substances are required to keep it clean.

It smells slightly soil-like and tastes sweet, and my resistance to the colour fades as I swim. Ducks and moorhens swim about, leaving fluff and feathers floating on the surface. They appear unperturbed by humans and pass by allowing me to see them up close and swim beside them.

A quiet and unique swim, where the city fades away and the natural world takes over, to remind you that you are small and puny and need love.

Camber sands

Posted on August 27, 2011 by words and signs

Blustery, windswept, world-stretching beach. Swimming singularly in the complete dome of heaven in the 360 degree vista, like a glass-topped cake stand.

Changing skies with Cirrus, Cumulus and Alto cumulus, sailing like galleons across the glassy sea of smooth blue- bluer than the ocean beneath, and causing the churning waters to turn sugar-brown and the tossing waves to break unrelentingly. The walk is long, and the wind pressure tries to catch everything away and loose it in a distant place.

Swimming is shallow, as we cannot seem to stem the effect of the retreating tide, which seems determined to stretch the whole ocean as thin as possible. The water is warm and soothing and we linger in the briny locker of the fishes pool, since our return may be a long time hence.

It is hard to leave the sea, so we wallow long and float unnecessarily in the shallows, putting off standing up to face the sharp blast of air and sand.

Margate beach

Posted on August 23, 2011 by words and signs

A glorious day with great excitement as we set out on the two hours bus journey to the seaside.

It was well worth it, and the hot bus and cooped up air, disappeared as soon as we hit the beach. It is curious that most immediately want to get into costumes for a dip in the sea. Colours in the sky and sea were fresh and intense and typical of a British seaside vista.

The water was balmy and swimming easy in the steady, calm sea. The months in the city, are instantly swept away as arms and legs stretch out in the therapeutic water and propelled through the buoyant medium of Hydrogen, Oxygen and Sodium Chloride. (and others)

Beauty, Art and Science come together in a way that everyone can understand and definitely enjoy…

Brockwell Lido Herne Hill

Posted on August 22, 2011 by words and signs

A completely still pool with hardly a ripple. A lone swimmer today, when the only waves were my own and as I pressed forwards, the surface barely broke.

Water fresh and cool lay still, cheating the sun as it grinning from behind heaven lined clouds.

The body moves sleek in the azure blue, where the sky has melted and inhabits the land, as the flood water of old. As I sink into the deep blue, muscles, now familiar with the swim, cooperate easily. The body moves slick as a seal through the cold channels.

Turquoise, chilly rivulets of delicious cold liquid, a kick and I am alive…

cold selkie

one swimming in the wild…

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