Rain falls like a gold lace curtain in the dawn sun.

The squally weather is ideal for summer, 

friendly to the farmer and welcomed by the garden.

There are only two people...

who use the long beach in the mornings, 

myself and a local farmer with a dog called Hokto.  

Hokto is a scruffy grey mutt that looks like he's been created by Dr.Seuss. 

The farmer is not much different, squat and tubby. 

In the winter months he often gets out before me 

and leaves his footprints on the beach.

He walks with short steps, feet splayed out. 

One morning I tried walking in his footprints 

and found myself doing a Charlie Chaplin imitation.

In the summer months I get out before him to avoid the sun 

so my footprints are the only ones on the beach.

This morning I had finished our walk 

 and was sat on a driftwood seat I had made at the beach exit.  

The farmer and Hokto appeared at their usual place 

midway down the beach where the boats are pulled up.  

Him and Hokto started off away from us 

and then as I watched he started acting strangely. 

At that distance it was at first hard to imagine what he was doing.  

The little farmer was swinging his arms 

and taking giant strides like a Greek palace guard. 

He was walking in my footprints. 

And, amazingly, he kept going like that until he became a dot on the beach. 

Even Duke laughed.

Maybe he found out it was better exercise than his usual waddle.

Or maybe he wondered how it felt to be in the shoes of a tall gaijin.

Carriers of the sun. 

Predawn, 18th August 2014. 

Two planets in close proximity precede the sun.

Ancient civilizations would see this as an oracle 

of some coming event.

No idea what planets they are.

Squalls in the sunset.

The rain has retreated for a while, leaving a gap for a BBQ. 

But this summer the squalls are never far away.  

Sun and rain, sun and rain...

good for the garden, and cool breezes

with every passing shower. 

Love it.

Summer storm dawns

Midsummer morn and battleship island. 

Local lore says that the island was mistakenly shelled

 by the U.S. Navy during WW11. 

They didn't manage to sink it.

Marooned Minnie 

So long Halong.  

Typhoon 11 breezed by without too much fuss. 

Left a beaut beach and a gift- 

the first glass fishing ball in five years.

Dog's Delight

Rough seas at high tide 

dumped this useful post on the beach.

With its chunk of concrete base 

it must weigh half-a-ton - 

a mystery how it came over the reef.

PlantPro Model X1

A scientific new development 

 for plant protection in violent storms. 

 Can be rotated to any wind direction.

Double sandbags tied together secure the chair (I hope). 

We'll see in a couple of days.

Hello Halong

A lemon sun rises above waves from T11, 

as big as houses, breaking on the reef.

Calm before the storm.

Time for a last barbecue before 

typhoon No.11 arrives, about 36 hours away.

The sea in the lagoon is only slightly ruffled 

but the reef is beginning to roar 

like a flight of approaching bombers.

Just  Duke and myself, (wifie away visiting an aging mom).

Aaah, peace. Time for another beer.