he found some chalk

monday 25th october 2004 @ 00:03

today we claimed back the beach, from the tourists and day trippers, from the half term hourdes of restless children and ragged parents. we walked hand in hand along the wet stones. the sun was warm on our faces for the first time in weeks and the puppies circled around us with tails aloft. they love the beach although their elderly joints will be stiff by tonight. we drank hot chocolate from the border cafe and skimmed stones into the waves.
this is when we are always at our happiest. we don't have to speak. we listen to the roaring waves and the sliding of the shingle under our boots. we take turns to send the dogs hurtling through the foam after pebbles and occasionally sit to share a cigarette and a passing thought.
he found some chalk and wrote "i love you" on the concrete groyne. we smiled. the tide was going out.