Boxing Day madness...

Bunting and bathers in the sunshine, this is the annual dip off Mundesley beach.

The event was very well attended this year with many onlookers and much jollity.

I have to say the 'dip' is more of a quick paddle than a swim but a lot of fun.

The ice has gone.

Happy Christmas to you all. Enjoy the day.

I tried to make a Christmas card but failed. I was going to use one of these photos as a background and write a greeting on top but although I could write the text it would not stay in place. By next Christmas I may have got it right.

Never mind the snow what about the ice?

The track out is glazed with ice and the slipway has taken on a new meaning. I am not a lover of 4wheel trucks but at the moment it is the only way to get up the slope. The sun is shining so the ice may ease by the middle of the day.

I live in hope.

Views from the back door ........

................ and one from the front.

We too have snow. Ok, not much but we are trying to suffer like the rest of you.

These shots were taken around eight o'clock this morning before it started to melt.

The sun is now shining and the sea temperature is about 8C so someone may be surfing but not here.

The end of the crab season.

Crab pots piled up to await the spring.

No more crab salad or cakes till then. Oh well ................

A young herring gull feeding on the beach near a couple of little plovers. They were finding plenty of food washed up with the seaweed.

Gulls on the beach...

...and an oystercatcher for good measure.

It was a bit chilly but there was no wind so not bad for the time of year.

Thinking of that, I think the last photo should be called "it's behind you".

Summer past.

Will they save the world for us?

I think this is an eider duck.

I have seen eider ducks in Scotland but not this far south before and they do come to our waters occasionally. This is a female and was on her own bobbing about on the swell.

The boat is yet another survey ship going up and down close to the shore. I know surveying can be a slow process when mapping sandbanks but the weeks they have been out there seem a bit excessive. By now they must know every grain of sand.

The pictures are new stock for the shop.

They are photos printed on canvas, some as taken and some that have been "got at" on Photoshop.

High tides and a north wind...

The gate at the bottom of the slipway was closed yesterday, for the first time this winter, to keep the surge at bay and was still closed this morning.

The sea is a bit quieter after yesterday`s excesses but still lively.

The sand has been taken off the beach revealing some of the old groyne supports, a drop of three or four feet, and a lot of sand.

Gone fishing on a cool sunny morning..

Flat calm so the boat could be launched by one man.

The other chap was doing it the easy way by standing on the beach.

I suspect the one in the boat will catch more fish but it was a nice morning to be out, if a little chilly.

A short walk between the rain drops.

The North Sea looking very Novemberish, still not cold but rather dull (as is this post .................)

Strange creatures at Overstrand ........

Garden sculpture anyone? Just a small part of the exhibition which I have been part of.

I could show the paintings, which are of a high standard,

but where to start and how long have you got?

These fellows are just fun.

Afternoon sun on the beach.

At last I got down to the beach, what with head cold and then the rain I was getting withdrawal symptoms.

It was rather quiet but very pleasant. No driftwood or interesting bits for Sam who is making mobiles for Christmas so I`ll have to try again tomorrow.

A new survey ship?

A bit hazy in the morning mist and only about a mile and half offshore................

I have not been out much this week as I have succumbed to a head cold and it has been cold (or was it me?).

The NOVA show is going well and I have sold the bell tree.

Novastrand is up and running

These are a few of the artists involved doing a publicity shot.

After all the messing about we had a great private view and some sales so everyone is happy.

I am now in recovery mode and playing with some more photos;

I `ll try and get back to the beach soon.

I have found the icicle tree.

I will be helping to set up the NOVA show on Thursday and Friday at the Belfry Arts Centre in Overstrand.

The moon is at it again and I sit and watch it gently rising over the sea, very restful and very beautiful.

I have been making bells.

Alternative Christmas trees are the order of the day. I am taking part in a show, with local artists, in Overstrand next week and had to come up with something new. The result was a bell tree; the down side was there are 48 bells on it!

I have done another tree (can't find the photo for the moment)and that turned out to have 48 icicles on it, I must be mad.

A warm morning in October

Gulls on the beach and a very quiet sea, long may this last.

Yes, I have been playing with photoshop again and I am enjoying it.

We did some gardening yesterday to tidy up before the winter and I worked on the wood-shed to get the logs organised.

I have been playing with Photoshop.

I have been thinking about turning these images into cards or prints for the shop ............. but would they sell?

I have no idea ..............

It`s been a busy week ................

Here is a piece of driftwood which for me is treasure; it is about 3 feet long and almost to heavy to carry but I made it home.

The fishbox will be a planter in the yard next year. It comes from Devon not London as I first thought.

I know sea levels are rising but not that much yet. The young seal was making a dash for the sea and I got wet feet taking its picture.

The tops of groyne posts......

Yesterday I missed more than than I captured on camera. There was a kingfisher flashing down the stream, a flock of long-tailed tits in the trees and the first skeins of geese flying in from the sea.

The result is two photos of static posts. At least I can keep up with them .............

October morning.........

Not a good morning to get through the surf. No good for crabbing.

And too rough for our bold surfers.