Cockles & Clams

   Collecting shells and clams, whether they're dead or alive, has always been something I have done to help clear a cluttered mind.  A gradual walk down the beach, or a snorkel near to the coast can almost always reveal an interesting shell with its infinite variations in colour, shape and pattern.

   I understand how critical shells are to the eco-system, with fish and other sea creatures utilising them for security or camouflage, and how essential they are to a healthy beach as they are one of the primary sediments from which it is made.

  Clams constantly astound me with their size, shape, colour, or behaviour. There are hundreds of clam and shell species, and I take comfort in knowing that I will never fully comprehend this animal since there is always a new shell for me to find.