


























It’s unremittingly grey here at Chez Tidalscribe, but jump into the time machine back to last Saturday.

Jump out of your car and follow the path to the sea.




Don’t fall off the pier…

Do you dare to go up to the zip wire?
How is your Saturday going?

Today’s stroll started with a long brisk walk, but I’ve saved you that part. We are at the top and the end of Hengistbury Head. It was sunny, but seems to have got cloudy again. At least you can still see the Isle of Wight. I do not know if this yellow object was planted by aliens or…


Look down on Mudeford Sandspit, do you want to go down there?


Would you like one of these beach huts? Some look over the harbour, others out to sea and some lucky ones have a view in both directions.

They cost as much as real houses.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150581153#/?channel=RES_BUY
£350,000 or more…

And you can’t stay overnight all year round and have to use the toilet and shower blocks…

Let’s go round to the sea shore.

Rain is threatening so we will walk round the harbour and head back.

Stay on the path here.

This leads to the dark woods of the interior, we are not going to enter in case we get lost or we can’t keep quiet.


Carry on…

… if you are ready for coffee and a little something.


Would you like a beach hut here, or just a walk?

Another grey day, so where would you like to visit?


Luckily the museum is open after a long restoration/revamp…

What is this? Find out soon.

Who is she? Find out further down.

What could this be? More clues soon.

Who might he be? Answer at the end.



A clue

What is this?

A very old boat!


Time for some art…









The museum is free and there is a nice café in Scalpen’s Court next door, both in historic buildings.
What do you enjoy looking at in galleries or museums?
https://www.poolemuseum.org.uk/visit-us
https://www.poolemuseum.org.uk/explore/scaplens-court-and-garden







The millstream is fine if you are a swan.

Place Mill was mentioned in the Doomsday Book.

Walk over the River Avon twice.



There are at least four River Avons in England. This one has come from Wiltshire, through Salisbury, divided here, but reunited and united with the River Stour at Christchurch Harbour. There are River Avons all over the world perhaps? One in Christchurch New Zealand, one in Northam, Western Australia, famous for uniquely having white swans as the black swan is native to Western Australia.
Let us know if you have a River Avon or River Stour.

It is not raining in this picture, but it has been raining A LOT.

No one is sitting by the river today.

Only a blogger or photographer would be stupid enough to walk here.

It is high tide.

Long ago this would have been swamp and flood plains, but humans like to tidy things up and build barriers…


No ferry today

Someone’s enjoying the water.


Time to cross the river…

…by bridge…

…and walk home up hill!

No words, just waves…








???


Few words and lots of carving.



What is this? Answer later.




No I didn’t try this, looked too complicated. Do you like your walks with or without augmented reality?

Will you have a sit down or go for a jog?




Bare winter trees reveal we are not far from town.




2025 has slipped down over the horizon and a quarter of a century has gone by.


Christmas is wound up – how many metres of lights on this reel? Answers at the end.

Time to blow the cobwebs away and head into 2026.

An alien or a jellyfish? Answer below.

Where are you if you have this view?

Who are you waiting for?

Whose garden shed?

Can you give a home to an unwanted Christmas soldier?

ANSWERS – NOT NECESARILY IN THE RIGHT ORDER
An ice plate, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, 75 metres, the garden centre’s, Regent Centre Christchurch
Are you ready for the next quarter of a century?


‘Artist as Witness: The Impact of War
25 October 2025 – 8 March 2026
This thought-provoking exhibition explores the importance of the artist as eyewitness, providing insights not only into warfare but also the impact of war on those involved and the communities affected. It includes artwork from the First and Second World War, as well as recent work by award-winning artist George Butler of the war in Ukraine.’

If you have returned after yesterday’s visit to the Russell Cotes Museum have a look round the gallery.
https://tidalscribe.com/2025/12/28/sunday-salon-victorian-christmas/

















https://russellcotes.com/event/artist-as-witness/
Are artists as important as ever in recording war?