Birds and bliss

Just back from holiday - well a long weekend away. But it was utterly, utterly marvellous. And incredibly relaxing - the best holiday I think we've had in a long while. We did a fair amount of walking, visited nature reserves and bird sanctuaries and saw loads of birds. Including little egrets (which are about the size of an elephant, so goodness knows what a large egret is ...), cormorants, black-headed gulls, herring gulls, tern, a tufted duck, great-crested grebes, green finches, house martins, swallows and - my all-time favourites - the long-tailed tits. They're soooo cute! I could put one in my pocket and take it home. But Lord H (let alone the RSPB) wouldn't allow it, I fear. All in all, we saw about 40 varieties of bird. Bliss.

The B&B was good too - a lovely room, fluffy towels, great breakfasts, and super clean & comfy. Will definitely stay there again. Or at least in the area. The Purbecks are wonderful. Honestly, I could retire there. Given half a chance. And so near Lord H's home ground of Bournemouth too.

The best bit of all (apart from the long-tailed tit family) was the walk along Studland Beach. I couldn't resist it - I took off my shoes and socks and walked along in the sea. Lord H did too. It was bliss. I haven't done that for nearly 30 years at least. And it was past the naturist area of the beach too. I do appreciate it might have been better etiquette to put my binoculars away (for the birds, people, for the birds!!), but nobody complained, and I didn't look at anyone below neck level. Always the best move. Actually, given the right moment and a pleasing lack of people, I was half tempted to shed all inhibitions and clothing, and leap into the sea myself. Bloody hell, but it was that kind of day. I can see the attraction of it for sure.

Here's a poem I've just written:

At Studland Beach

That particular sparkle
of light on water
gets me,
the sand’s amber glow.
A minute is all it takes
and it’s thirty years gone.
I’m tearing off shoes, socks,
rolling my trousers up

and I’m running,
shrieking like a child let loose from school
into the sea.
A blast of icy blue, creamy wave,
the sting of salt on skin
and I’m in.


And, hey, even a sonnet there - of sorts! So I hope you're suitably impressed. My attempts at sonnets usually end up like Patience Strong (Heaven forfend!), so this is a change for sure.

We've definitely got to go away for another bird weekend sometime this year - it's great. Has taken my mind completely off the lack of activity on my nearly deal with
PD Publishing - which can only be a good thing. Writing career (ho ho!) - after a weekend like this, who really cares, eh!

This week's haiku (which did happen, I swear it!):

The ducks on the lawn
perform an evening quadrille.
They wait for applause.

This weekend's nice things:

1. Studland Beach
2. Bird-watching
3. Feeling relaxed - for the first time in ages, at least for any length of time!

Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Pink Champagne and Apple Juice
Goldenford Publishers