Blue: summer’s farewell wink

Three cars arrived one… two… three… pulling up in the car park within seconds of each other as if in formation. To be fair it happens with surprising regularity that Hilary and I are both late by precisely the same number of minutes, but that Row, Chris and myself should arrive in formation from quite different directions was impressive.

Fortunately the efficiency went no further: one can have too much of a good thing. I proceeded to re-allocate items between my car boot and my bag, in the drizzle and high wind, to the amusement of Chris and Row. Some minutes later, having deemed the kit in my bag was good to go, we went. It would be another hour or so before I, soaking wet, discovered that despite this detailed and precise faffing, I still hadn’t managed to put an actual towel into the bag.

It’s not fair to say that the weather was unpromising. The weather promised a great deal: thick cloud, high wind and the chance to dodge the occasional downpour. It had less to say on the subject of visibility, and the question of sunlight was a firmly settled ‘no’. And yet, as I swam up Clevedon Marine Lake for a second lap, I had the impression of the sun over my left shoulder, which was odd because that was exactly the opposite direction to where it should be.

I looked over my shoulder and there, against all promises of the weather, was a clear bright hole in the clouds and the most perfect patch of blue sky. Summer was winking a last farewell. Minutes later it was gone, but a flash of white across the channel suggested Summer was doing the rounds and now bidding goodbye to Cardiff.

She’ll be back next year. Maybe she’ll stay a little longer next time.