West Wittering outing

On Wednesday I organised a day trip of Rusters to Bob Tickler’s beach hut on West Wittering beach.

The trip was organised some time ago and of course –  when the day arrived – Storm Gerrit was on its way.

A cricketer turned successful artist friend of Alice’s is painting a series of series of beach-scapes of West Wittering and determined to paint one in winter.

Thus, intrepid and cosseted in warm protective clothing, he set up his easel by the seashore.

There was much banter from the Rusters, doing their best to keep warm with hot instant coffee in paper cups as the storm grew, scattering fine sand everywhere.

“I’m just going out for a walk. I may not be back for a while …” said one, mimicking Captain Oates of Scott of The Antarctic fame.

Bob commented:

‘The first time J painted here there was a sandstorm. I half expected Omar Sharif to appear on a camel ..!” (a reference to David Lean’s legendary 1962 movie Lawrence of Arabia).

When Bob suggested mulled wine in a local hostelry there were no objections – though those partaking in the expedition feared that the absent artist on the shore might be blown away to sea …