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| Sandcastle building |
The essentials were packed. I had strange swimsuits of shirred elasticated fabric. They seemed to attract sand and became very scratchy. That was better than the knitted garments inflicted on some children. I loved to go to the sea to swim or paddle. We would collect shells on the beach and search for treasures in rock pools.
But buckets and spades were also needed. Castle building was taken quite seriously and besides, those buckets were useful for keeping a small fish for the afternoon.
Until I was about eight we would stay at bed and breakfast places, preferably farmhouses. Some places would offer an evening meal or we had sandwiches or fish and chip. As the family became better off we started to go to hotels. When I was nine we went to Guernsey which involved my first ever flight. That was far better than the car and even more exciting than a train!
I had swimsuits like that. The sand collected in every stretchy little square! At the end of the day at the beach, my bucket would be filled with seawater. Then I would be sat on the concrete path and Dad would carefully rinse and dry my feet and help replace my shoes and socks. To this day I can remember his gentleness and care as every last grain of sand was removed, and my feet felt clean and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely memory to have!
DeleteI, too, had a swimsuit like that! Mine was dark blue in color. Building sand castles, digging deep holes, covering my father with sand, and collecting sea shells were my favorite seaside activities.
ReplyDeleteGreat memories, aren't they!
DeleteThere is a collective family memory of a photographic slide (remember them?!) showing my brother coming out of the sea in a knitted swimsuit (aged about 3) The swimsuit had collected water, of course, and the crotch was hanging down in a most undignified manner!!
ReplyDeleteI remember slides (and endless slide shows at relatives' homes) and the indignity of the knitted swimsuit.
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