When I look back on my life so far, work in progress as it is, the thing that strikes me is how many of my favourite memories and moments have happened at the seaside. I suppose it’s natural that it’s holidays we remember fondly but I’ve had plenty of inland holidays over the years. Conversely I remember sitting on the beach at Lyme Regis with a tiny boy in a baby sling, in our beach tent, as the rain pelted down almost sideways. And it was brilliant.
I think it’s the seaside we love, rather than specifically the beach too. When we went to the North Norfolk coast the other year, we had to detour in land to get through Burnham Deepdale:
And the weather didn’t improve that dramatically all week. Not that it mattered though because it’s the sound of the sea, lobbing stones into it, walking bare toed through it and exploring the bleak beauty that really appeals.
It’s something I hope we’ve instilled in the kids too. I know people at work who spend thousands and thousands of pounds on holidays- either to tropical locations or foreign theme parks- but frankly the British outdoors is so much more invigorating don’t you think? It certainly involves less queuing, that’s for sure…