Leo New Moon

The Sun, Moon, and Venus are fine and dandy, sending pleasantries to Uranus. The Sun's already shining  bright as you drop down from the High Moor towards the sea and along the farm lane the pigs and cattle are dozing in the shade. Two pounds in a box at the farm gate will get you a day's parking in a little field beside the lane and off you go, through a scrabble of hens and a waddle of ducks onto the track which drops down, down to the cove below.

It's not for the faint hearted, this track, it starts easy and gets tough if you have short legs - being hewn from the cliff face by miners and fishermen with no consideration of 21st century pleasure seekers. Often the cove is deserted, but today is different. Intrepid families have braved the mile long, rocky path and the separation from phone signals,shops and electricity to spend a good old-fashioned day on the beach. 

It's rarely safe enough for swimming here - there's no lifeguard and the currents are lethal but today is different - little ones bob about on bellyboards, a snorkler circuits the cove and teenagers try to swim to the headlands -nobody is in any danger at all.  The eager collie swims out and back a dozen times, finds friends to play chase with, no-one stops them, no-one worries, everyone is safe today. Families swim, blow bubbles, pitch tents, play cricket and picnic. No-one  gets drunk, nobody cries. Fathers lift tiny kids onto huge rocks and they are king of the castle, they laugh and do it again.  A seal comes in close,watching this extraordinary day. The children are fascinated by him and by the incoming tide which surprises their sandy feet.

You sketch a bit and take a photo or two but it's a day for just being part of the place for awhile. The spring tide is rushing in. Presently there will be a scurry for the long climb back and you're a bit slow so you leave now and take your time. Climbing back up the hot and dusty hillside, the sound of children having fun echos around the cove and up the valley. You stop and look back, resting a moment and it's then that you notice  the angels.....