Soothing stroll

What an astounding sea today! Long swells, stretching in a straight line from Outer Kom to well past the lighthouse, rolling shorewards in parallel lines and breaking in a tumult of surf on the approach to the rocky ledge that characterises this piece of coastline, the sun glowing emerald green through each wave before it collapsed into bright whiteness.

Thrushes and bulbuls flitted among the bushes, resting on the remains of a long-disused fence to sing their joyous songs in tribute to the magnificence of the day. Fynbos flowers opened their shiny buttercup-yellow petals to the sun, while pure white lilies remained separate and aloof from the riotous colour at their feet.

Warm sunshine and a gentle sea breeze reminded me that this is typical of winter in the Cape, punctuated by short, sharp storms to relieve the monotony and fill our dams. All too soon we will be complaining about the Cape Doctor, our summer southeaster that frays flags and tempers but cleans the air and blows away the cobwebs of the mind.