Solstice at the Scallop

Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
And Phoebus 'gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chalic'd flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes;
With everything that pretty bin,
My lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise!


We got up at half past three and drove over to Aldeburgh, just us, Hercule,  and a bottle of champagne, to see the midsummer sun rise over the sea. 

And it rose, 'midst clouds, most beautifully, with Maggi Hambling's Scallop sustaining us in the foreground and Thorpness and Sizewell fading into the mists behind. Whilst above us sandlarks  competed to see who could sing most high and blithe in the brightening sky. O it was glorious

My extra pictures show the same scene before the sun rose, and  a skein of wild geese, flying joyfully over the sea  as morning broke


Happy Solstice, one and all!