As the sun sank down beyond the headland, beautiful coloured reflections appeared in the rock pools, rippling with the swell of the sea at the turn of the tide. Algy flew over to the rocks to get a better view, and perched there, quietly watching the water, until the light was gone.
The Scotch mist swept back in from the sea, and it rained all day … and it rained all night. And then it kept on raining, with a stiff south-westerly driving the water horizontally across the land. There was no chance of staying dry, so Algy found himself a perch with a good view of the hay field. He was fascinated by the perpetual motion of the rippling grasses, with each gust of wind setting off a new wave. It reminded Algy of a silly song …
This little ripple had rhythm
And the other little ripple had none
So all day through
And all night too
He kept on singing
Boo-boo-ley-doop, Boo-boo-ley-doop, Boo-boo-ley-doop …
So for everyone who is feeling too hot, or who just needs cheering up with a wee bit of nonsense, Algy offers you This Little Ripple had Rhythm by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra, and the watery animation that accompanies it in the old movie The Big Broadcast of 1938.
Algy dedicates this post especially to all his friends who are suffering from the heatwave currently affecting the western parts of North America. He hopes that this may help you feel slightly cooler. If he could send you some of this cold, wet weather, he would!
It was a fine early summer afternoon, with a pleasant light breeze from the north. Algy was happy just to sit by the loch for a while, dreaming lazily of adventures yet to come, and watching the sea birds going about their business while the water rippled gently against the pebbles.
The Adventures of Algy 