Author Archives: words and signs

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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…

Le Palus: Côte d’Armour: Brittany

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Grey skies and grey, transparent water, fill this small cove, with smooth stones on the beach and craggy headlands on both sides. A gentle breeze from the sea, keeps the temperature cool and invigorating. The water gets deep quickly making a great swimming location, and the surface is almost flat with hardly noticeable ripples that break imperceptibly on the flat, grey pebbles.

Striking out into the water, the deep fisherman’s green hold the usual attraction. The sheer enjoyment of the watery refreshment, sweeps away restriction and difficulty. Swimming feels powerful and the sense of freedom is motivating. I swam across the cove to a small beach on the opposite shore, then returned. It seems easy to swim in these conditions, and builds confidence to go out deeper and farther.

I just turn around in the water and watch my feet flip up as they defy the usual gravity and obey new rules in the green deep. Then, the water from the heavens decided to meet the water on the earth..

Port Moguer: Côte d’Armour: Brittany

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A cool day and cooler water, that circles into the very small bay.

Brown rocks, still jagged at the tops, sport a black and orange water-line, where lichen and sea grasses cling to survive. A rocky, stony beach leads into deep water, for excellent swimming. Further out towards a blue horizon, the colours turn deep purple and black, and fear mounts in this unknown territory. As I swim level with the small headland, the adjacent cove can be seen with the marina, just down the coast.

This deep is an inkwell, as deep as it is wide, and the Russian blue and inky purple write the depths of mercy, who’s darkness can also bring fear.

The water is beautiful and the close proximity of the unyielding stone is atmospheric and dangerous. Stretching out, on the journey back, the relief brings out the sun, which instantly lightens the scene. I swim as a denizen rising out of the water and gaining “land legs” after dwelling in the deep.

Stone Bay: Isle of Thanet

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Magnificence of the glory of the One holy and all-powerful Creator of everything.

The atmosphere is very hot – over 30°, which contrasts with the cool water that seems cooler than yesterday, but necessarily refreshing.

The line between heaven and earth is smudged, like chalk pastels that mingle the stark difference between both. Heaven descends to earth and earth is transformed into glorious blue.

Feet become entangled in fronds of soft, gentle kelp until the body is able to stretch out on the surface of the water. Silky soft sand, almost as fine as clay, gets churned up easily in the retreating tide and makes it impossible to see the seabed.

It takes a long swim out to get depth and solitude. The water so salty, tasty and refreshing is a delight to swim in and the tiny sand particles, along with the bulk of the human body, are suspended in the liquid’s density.

Swimming to the shore for the last time, lying backwards and paddling with my arms, I could eventually feel the dainty, wafting of the kelp fronds on my back, as they surfed me over, one at a time, into the shallows.

Herne Bay: Isle of Thanet

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Cooler, shifting tree-green sea, rolls towards the shore with a certainty not known to humans. It never fails, never turns – a ceaseless power that is resistless.

The small stones on the shore continue into the water, where they become larger nuggets of burnished gold. The water becomes deep straightaway and swimming is refreshing after a day walking in the heat,

The deeper water is dark and unknown but the sunlight on the surface keeps the outlook bright. Any fear is exchanged for relief that the brown-tinged liquid infuses into weary limbs.

Small waves break apologetically against the golden nodules, almost silent, in the evening light and the breeze clips the tops of the water like fish-scales.

“By His power he churned up the sea…” Job 26

“He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses…” Psalm 33

Botany Bay: Isle of Thanet

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Strong sun and wind and towering chalk towers along the coast, make this beach dramatic and powerful. Soft sand and shallow turn-of-the-tide, draws a crowd of families to this piece of strand.

The dazzling chalk compliments the peerless blue and precious crystal waters run along this stretch of shore.

The water is clear for swimming, but it takes some time tor each out-of-depth regions. Some outcrops of the white stones could be painful if unnoticed. The comparatively “light-weight” rocks, half buried in sand, mirror the scudding clouds in the upper atmosphere, driven by a stiff wind.

Margate: Isle of Thanet

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Refreshment after a day walking in the sun. The tide ripples in across the warm sands and areas of stones with green seaweed hair dampened down with preparations. The empty harbour fills gradually with water and the newly replicated ancient steps into the sea, feel the lapping of the incoming water, and visions of Emperors and Queens graciously dipping royal feet, now-gone, into a silent, watery grave.

The atmosphere is free of stress and the water mostly clear, with a few assorted clumps of seaweed. Swimming past a flock of seagulls, bobbing on the gentle waves, they diplomatically separate to allow the swimmer to move past.

Our own personal star shines brightly, bringing enjoyment, relaxation and a sense of freedom.

Arun district: West Sussex

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Littlehampton, East beach

The sea is His, He made it and everything in it.

O Lord – you’re beautiful…

Warm is a fair description of the water. Especially in the shallows. Not a hint of pain or hesitation, wading into the deeper sea. Molten jade with small waves, driven in by the power generated by the mighty ocean.

Small hairy clumps of weed look big when immersed in the liquid, but contract to a few strands in the atmosphere. The only sounds are water and the occasional cry of the birds.

Swimming out to sea, level with the end of the harbour board-walk, was quite difficult against the on-coming tide, but the return journey held us up with the advancing tide.

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Rustington

Deep in an instant. Dark green water, with short white breakers, rolling in against a shingle shore. Easy swimming in the gentle swell. Struck out along the coast line to enjoy a deeper experience with minimum effort.

Lolling and lolloping about like a cork, or an empty bottle on the surface, watching the sparkles from the sun magnify against the tops of the waves.

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Littlehampton, West beach

Furry pom-poms congregate along the water line, like aliens waiting to land on a distant shore. The invasion is only a few and they peter out almost immediately. Separate a small path through the fronds and shoot out into the clear, deep water, beautiful in the evening sun as it sinks into pink. A satisfied quiet, hovers in the warm air, and the hazy headland far away, seems like the end of a perfect day.

A swim along the line of the beach is invigorating and each stroke feels powerful and significant. Movement is total. 360º without friction or restriction and the knowledge of freedom is wonderful. The idea of a water creature, turning with ease and confidence in it’s home conditions, is felt and known.

The last swim for the day and reluctantly I ease my body out of the salty water and back on the land…

Viking Bay: Broadstairs: Isle of Thanet

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A first chance to indulge in the yearly baptism of the mighty, salty sea. The blue sky stretches from one chalky white headland to the other, like a huge shield that protects from the emptiness of space. Though covered with a slight veil of diffused light, the colour is reflected in the pale emerald green water, and wafting strands of clean, dark brown seaweed float harmlessly to provide “necklaces” for small children playing in the shallows.

It seemed cold, as it always is at the first dip, but the skin easily acclimatizes. Three short trips into the water brought on the final decision to swim to a long metal pole sticking up out of the sea, just off the shore. Striking out, swimming against a low heave, brought the usual growing sense of panic, as thoughts grew wild about what might be underneath.

Concentrating on the sunshine, the glorious surface and not on imaginations wild with outrageous pictures, kept the stress level in easy control. It seemed forever to reach the marker pole, and touching it, headed back to the shore. Let’s go again, it isn’t that far…

The delight of feeling the freedom of the water as it’s gentle healing qualities take a hold of the mind and the burdens of the human psyche are laid to rest in the deep dark seabed, just as the soul rests it’s troubles on it’s Maker.

On reaching the pole the second time, a previously unnoticed ledge was there to stand on. Grabbing the pole and scrambling up, small, clinging barnacles tore the skin quite badly on fingers, arms and leg, damages unnoticed in the cool water. Standing on the ledge, a view of the beach was panoramic, and received wounds, not felt.

Only on the beach could the realization be known. Blood bright and watery ran down, but the pain was masked by the anesthetic and disinfectant qualities of the water. A third trip came to mind, but perhaps I should pace myself….

Not many pictures, as I just wanted to enjoy and forget…

River Usk Llangynidir

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Dipping feet in the free flowing river, as cold as crystal freezing slowly. Questions arise about the full self following suite in the flood. The chill wears off and enjoyable refreshment takes over to renew weary urban muscles.

The brown stones have a jacket of fine silt and short plant growths provide a good cushion to sit on.

It is not exactly swimming, but a first-of-the-season wild dip into cool Brecon Beacon water, spiced up with sunshine and the warmth of the atmposphere. A few clouds of tiny flies have at last hatched, and enjoy a buzz round their life of a few short hours.

Being outside is a turn-around from grey indoors of the long winter, and the wilderness effect appeals to the hidden Pan within. As the body is emersed in the water, like a baptism of trust in the Eternal Creator, faith sees the walk of eternal life in an imperfect world, with seasons of renewal and fresh commitment to Him.

The body and inner sanctum are refreshed, as the final refresment of everlasting life, and a step nearer home.

Lancing Beach West Sussex

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The scent of the weed could be detected as we cycled to the shore. An assortment of seawead types with purple, pink and brown hue, lay dehydrating on the stones. Long brown tongues of Dabberlocks, strewn across the whole scene, those near the sea edge are shiny wet and those further up the beach, have a matt finish and are begining to smell.

The day is very grey and a fairly thick fog covers over the division lines between sea, ocean and land, giving the atmosphere a gloomy and slightly surreal feeling. A hoard of large crows has infiltated the beach area and are scavenging shell fish in the piles of seaweed, giving the whole area a feeling of doom, mystery and haunting emptiness.

We are alone on the beach and veilled with the mistiness, we get ready to go in. The water is only visible 100 yards out to sea, and all is grey, almost silent and sullen with desertion.

The water is grey with a slight tinge of sea green. The sand is suspended in the liquid with the churning of the waves. An undertow drags to the east, and the groynes help to keep us for loosing our direction and being swept along unknowingly away. Swimming back into the shore, gives a perspective on the scene, which is unfamiliar and stange. As the waves break ahead, their backs look like huge scaly crocodiles that chunter to the sand.

The silence and cold are reassuring that I can still take the low temerature not having been outside for a while. It dulls the stress and desire to be busy, and reminds me I am solitary and weak. The perspective of an ocean vast and dangerous…