Sunday by the sea part I

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.



- John Masefield







We spent the afternoon down at Osmington on the coast today, to round of MrL's birthday week off. After a slight hiccup, we ended up here for the first time - what a lovely place. Can thoroughly recommend the pub - The Smuggler's Inn. I sat on the cliff top for a while, whilst the others ventured down to the shore - not exactly a cliff, but too high and steep for me to tackle! Brought back treasures for me, though - shells of various kinds, sea glass, drift wood...........Weather was glorious, and I was able to identify sea purslane and bastard cabbage on the cliff top. Two huge tankers out in the bay; they might have beenw aiting to go into Weymouth or Portland - that's Portland in one of the photos, looking a bit like a misty isle on the horizon. Made a lovely change, and it was good to get some sea air into my lungs, it does me a power of good.