I was supposed to be walking in a forest but as soon as my feet stepped on the sand I felt all the stress drain away from me.

The plan had been to meet after I dropped K at the airport and go for a walk for some air and exercise. Despite the fact that we had to negotiate two lanes closed on one motorway as we headed to the airport and I had to dodge another closed motorway on the way back I made good time and called Martin when I was almost home. The call revealed that the plans had changed as Joanne had been ill in the night and all they wanted to do was rest and chill. “I called and left a message on your mobile and at home”, said Martin, which was a little odd as I’d had no missed calls and no voicemail.

I was a little surprised to see them all dressed up and about to head out when I pulled up in the road but it seemed that Anne has invited them up for a meal. I changed, grabbed a camera and headed off myself.

I’ve said before that at times of stress and when I need to relax it’s to the sea I head. Today was supposed to be a forest walk to take pictures of Autumn colour but with the sky high and blue the sea called me.

So, that’s how I found myself setting foot on the beach and wondering if this really is the 15th of October. From the first lambs of Spring, through the harvests of late Summer to the bonfires at the start of Winter there are things which mark the passing of one season and the start of another. Today it seemed that this was the day to be cleaning and repairing one’s beach hut. A ritual of late Autumn before the high seas of Winter.

I have to confess that for a long time now I’ve harboured a desire to have one of these huts and spend my time sitting by the sea reading books, making simple meals on a small gas fire and watching life pass by. Perhaps it’s fact that they remind me of the time I spent with my Father in his shed on a Sunday morning learning to solder or how to use chisels. Maybe it’s the fact that these small huts are less daunting than living in a house surrounding us as they do with a single room with no frills rather like a cocoon. Whatever it is today was one for the few hardy souls who sat out to the bitter end of summer. A warm, bright day stolen from Winter where the Sunday papers, a cup of tea and a sleep in a recliner looked ideal.

The beach itself was almost deserted, a complete contrast to the mass of humanity on a summer’s day. Today it was only the people who really appreciated it who had taken the trouble to find a corner against a groyne where the sun would linger the longest, faces turned to the sky making the most of this unseasonal weather.

All I wanted to do was walk and walk. I seem recently to have lost touch with life outside of an office or the inside of a car. The sound of the sea, the smells of the late flowering plants and the bird song was amazing. What have I been doing to miss all this for so long ? On and on I walked enjoying every step, the chance at last to use my body for more than walking from front door to car.

The pier was disappointing. Not as grand as Brighton it lacked the long walk out to sea but, nevertheless, was a good place to stop and watch the surfers enjoying the sun and the slight swell of ther sea, looking hopefully to the horizon for “the big one”.

With the light changing to that magical, golden pre-sunset light I love so much it was time to head back. A few people had arrived to play beach cricket and it reminded me of Goa and as I strolled along I was back there walking back to the apartment in Candolim with the air having that warm, dusty smell and the sun large and red hanging over the water.

By now most of the beach huts were closed up. I walked past some newly painted for the winter, some sporting new creosoted decking, the smell of the preservative mixing with that of the sea. The last part of the walk took me back onto the sand before the struggle up the dunes and down the other side to the car.

At home I tipped the sand from my shoes and put it with the shells on the shelf in the kitchen. A little bit of seaside to keep me sane until I can visit again.

For more pictures please look here …