Dungeness

Dungeness is Europe's largest expanse of shingle, between Romney Marsh and the sea in south west Kent. It's a unique, bleak place with a microclimate which supports a lot of unusual wildlife, and is home to a nuclear power station, no longer in use, and an RSPB reserve. It's exposed to the sun and the wind, dotted with large clumps of sea kale which are currently in flower, with rusty winding gear, and with small huts and shacks made from wood and corrugated metal, some of which have become desirable weekend retreats. From the end of the board walk there is a view of the sea, down several steep banks of shingle. People fish there, and we've seen seals and porpoises as well as birds. The dark wood house with its bright yellow paint is Prospect Cottage, former home of filmmaker and artist Derek Jarman, and it has a lovely, bright and quirky pebble garden, with driftwood, scrap metal and stone creating structure amongst vivid drifts of colourful flowers. 

I think Blip will record this as my 500th entry, though Sunday's asparagus should hold that position; I've been posting in the wrong order, largely because of lots of time wasted to no purpose trying to persuade my computer to respond. P has spent a long time exploring its inner workings today, and I think the decision is made: much as it goes against the grain, it will have to be a new laptop. Once that is sorted out, I will have a lot of catching up to do.