0215 - 2025.07 Surprise!

In the Southern Hemisphere July is winter. On the east coast it is often cool and dry, westerly adiabatic winds losing their moisture rather than bringing cold rain. Blue sky days.

In the southern hemisphere it’s also, sometimes, a festive celebration. Christmas in July. On the coast it’s not the same as in the nearby mountains, where the shorter days accompanied by cold nights and log fires keep the guest houses full, and hot meals and fortifying spirits suit the Christmas theme.

So we decided, as an alternative, on a calm, sparkling morning to have an outdoor champagne breakfast. On the beach, facing the rising sun with our backs to what little wind may try and spoil it for us. No presents or decorations required, the champagne was all the festivity we needed.

The radiant heat and lack of wind meant sunscreen, even though we wore jackets and jumpers with the air temperature a few degrees above freezing.

With inner and outer warmth the joviality slowed, heads became tired from the early morning start, and with no where else urgently beckoning, one by one resting eyes took charge.

Sitting on picnic blankets became lying on picnic blankets. The lapping of the too close water was soporific.

Lying on the sand, a warm sun, looking up at the sky, admiring the high cloud patterns and the subtle hues of blue, I thought nothing could be better. I’ll remember this day forever, I think to myself.

Then - a sound, quiet, splashing, getting closer- and I’m reminded of something else. Interstellar, the movie. The scene with the gravity wave racing around the water planet.

I see a dark shadow out of the corner of my eye? Oh no, it’s a breaking wave, we’re going to get soaked!

How can this happen?
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Technique: #digital
Theme: #abstract
Highlight colour: #blue

Series: #mini-sci-fi

Published on Medium 23 April 2026