The mobile phone rings at 2.45pm and she thought, “Who could it be?”

Ever since she got here, her phone doesn’t ring for casual calls. Not that it did ring much when she was back home anyway.

She pushed the button to answer the call…

“Hello?”
“Hi Jennifer, it’s Natalie here.”

“How are you?”
“Good…I just got a wok!”
“Oh, you went for a walk? We were wondering if you’d want to go out for another walk.”
“Okay, where to?”
“Have you ever been to the beach?”

So it was then she was informed that a shot of the “stormy, angry sea” was required for a project. Mind you, it has been cold and wet for the past two days – today was no exception either.
Perfect whether for the shot but poor one to be caught out…BY THE SEA.

By 3.30pm, she got into the warm car and off they go to Haumoana beach.
[Well, it's not REALLY a sandy beach kind of beach. In 1931, the beach got swallowed up by the sea and stones are all you can get now at Haumoana.]

The first test was fairly easy. Out of the car thinking, “Hmm…okay. Not too bad. Not too cold. Still bearable.”

The REAL test was when we got to the beach and it started drizzling again.
Not only did the wind howl, it shoved us around, too!

She had gloves on and yet she could barely feel her fingers.

Oddly enough, the raging sea was therapeutic.
It made her stand still. Watching. Waiting. Anticipating the next crash of waves.

She went nearer to the sea because she wanted to capture the foamy “residue” that the waves leaves on the stones.

“It looks far enough. I don’t think it’ll come any closer.”

Oops.
Spoke too soon. She frantically picked herself up and ran to higher ground when the waters rushed in, nearly soaking her shoes. Natalie was almost engulfed but David picked her up (literally) in time before both herself and the camera got wet.

She laughed.

In the end, she put her camera away. Pictures just don’t justify the actual view, the emotions that are linked in those moments.
She stood and watched.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God…