It rained in the afternoon but the morning was clear although a stiffening breeze hinted that that the weather was about to change

As we made our way along the short promenade a skinny man and a chunky girl began swimming in the heavy waves

I feared for their safety

Both wore black swimming outfits

Swimmers wearing black rarely drown

Older visitors to the bay remained in their cars drinking tea and eating sandwiches

I wanted to tell them that the town of Sandwich was less than fifteen miles distant

But neglected to do so as not to ruin the surprise

Deal after Deal

We sat in front of the writers house and shared a Martini

Shaken not stirred

The ghost of a Hollywood actress swam in the sea in front of us and when she emerged she invited us to a party that was to be held in the house with the terracotta tiles

A young girl played with a pink parasol on the foreshore and was being photographed by a poet we both knew well

He called his series of photographs

Nocturne in Grey and Pink

After Whistler

Later we took tea with a famous wartime leader whose booming voice alarmed the children who were taking tea with their parents

And grandparents

The purchase of cucumbers was suggested by the owner

And readily accepted

By each of us

As they had been harvested locally

With the greatest of care

And pacified children

With the surprising ease

A lone boat sat at the top of the hill above the bay

The coastline of France could be seen clearly from its bow

But only when the weather was clear

As it was today before the rains arrived