The walk began along the cliff top, examining the recent cliff falls. Due to the excessive rain this winter the cliffs have retreated up to 20 feet over the winter months, amazing considering the usual rate is about 1m per year. This was vividly illustrated by the once cliff borne WWII pillbox sitting out on the beach. No wonder the locals are concerned.

As the walk continued, the cliff path changed from sand to muddy bog, we were reliably informed this was a good indication of a change in lithology underfoot. An obvious observation really, but certainly one that hadn't occurred to me before.

On the beach the group examined the cliff face, making note of the change in beds from London Clay through to the more recent Loess, evidence of nearby glacial activity. Further along there was chance to examine the creamy-white layer of volcanic ash creating a layer in the London Clay. Each area of interested was supplemented by explanations from Brian, Di Smith or Di Clements. The large pillows of saturated clay flowing slowly towards the sea were fascinating, the constant trickle of falling sand and gravel a constant reminder of this process in motion.

The walk finished with all concerned looking for fossils, there were plenty to be found and most went back to their cars for lunch clutching their finds. A handful of mad people (myself included) braved the icy wind to return to the beach after lunch in a search for more fossils, I was driven by the desire for a sharks tooth, but in the end went away happy with some 55 million year old pieces of wood.

Thanks to all involved including especially Brian, Sue, Di Clements and Di Smith, whom I must say is the most enthusiastic person I have ever met and happens to be my tutor for this year.

A word of warning for those who are interested in doing this trip next time, don't underestimate how cold the beach can be at this time of year. Take gloves, wear extra socks and a hat would be good as wearing a hard hat is not essential.

Despite the cold I believe a good day was had by all, Walton-on-the-Naze is certainly a place I would like to return to - when it's warmer!

In the morning after a welcome caffeine injection, we were given an introductory talk on the world of Micro palaeontology. Now this got me quite confused, with references to foraminifera, protista, porifera and mollusca… ah, now there’s a word I recognise:-). Oh, do have I a lot to learn! We were then informed of some of the problems in sampling, collection and preparation, including cross contamination of samples and strata.

After this I, for one, was thinking "can I take any more of this on a Sunday?", my brain was hurting. But then after lunch and a unanimous decision we were presented with the fossils proper – a couple of prepared slides, each of which appeared to have a number of bits of tiny dirt on them. Oh, how wrong we were! Each had a carefully selected sample of 32 microfossils, each between about 1.5 to 45 micrometers long.

We then had a demonstration of transforming, what looked like ‘bilge water’, through a process of repeated washing and filtering through ever finer sieves, into a small pile of grit, although those with younger and keener eyes assured me that there were tiny shells amongst the residue.

After this, Adrian descended from his repository (of what must on reflection be several millions of samples), with a few small containers of what appeared to be fine sand. "Oh, no! What are we doing now?!" I thought. With a microscope apiece, we peered down the tubes at the grains scattered on a metal trays, to be confronted with what can only be described as amazing, wonderful and truly awesome. It was only then that I fully appreciated the wonder that beheld Hooke, Leeuwenhoek and others when they looked down their microscopes early in the 17th century, on looking at such things as poppy seeds and bee’s organs.

Our task – to prepare our own, - 32 microfossils per slide. Oh and by the way, no breathing, and definitely no coughing, sneezing or turning of pages too quickly – if you did, you lost several hundred fossils over the workspace. A task which took a great deal of patience and tenacity, otherwise you either picked up several specimens in one go, or they all went flying, when you only wanted one!

A great way to spend a damp Sunday in March and what is more, we got to keep the fossils. So now, my fossil collection has been increased by nearly a hundred. Any one want the pictures, no problem, just supply the trinocular for me to attach my camera to, and I shall be happy to oblige.