Sunday 11 May 2014

Stick a fork in me

I'm done.  The biggest boys had scout/cub camp this weekend, from Friday evening, so the littlest boy had two whole parents to himself for an entire day.  We asked him what he wanted to do, and he said "Go on holiday".  So after lunch we headed to the seaside.  We did mention that the weather wasn't brilliant, and perhaps we should do something else, but his heart was set on sand.

Well, sand there was, and plenty of it.  Much of it was blowing horizontally at about sixty miles an hour.  We marched gamely to the beach and trotted briskly along it.  Even the donkeys had their eyes squeezed shut and their ears flapped back flat.  It was like a scene from Lawrence of Arabia.  The littlest boy seemed completely oblivious to any discomfort and fairly thrilled to be king for a day.  (Yes, he is dressed as Superman again, the cape's under his jumper, Superman wears it like that sometimes when it's a bit chilly.  It doesn't diminish his superpowers you understand.)



There's not much colour in the photos because the wind had sucked all of the colour of the landscape.  I had sunglasses on because I've got contact lenses, and contact lenses and sand are not a good mix.  And I also had my eyes squeezed almost shut.  The sunglasses had a film of sea spray and sand on them so I couldn't really see much at all.  And I couldn't hold the camera steady either.  Mostly I was just concentrating on standing up.

We looked at the pier, but you have to pay to go on these days, so we just looked from the end.


We bought the littlest boy an ice-cream and wandered into the town for a bit out of the wind.  He was happy to find a fantastic Lego-filled shop with glass cases full of minifigures to press his nose against.


Some of them are astonishingly expensive.  I treated him to a couple of second-hand ones for 99p each, which he loved.

We bought some chips and ate them on a bench near the sea.  We fed the pigeons and seagulls and a tiny little sparrow.  When we asked the littlest boy what he wanted to do for the last hour he chose to go back to the beach.  The wind was stronger than ever, so we had fun leaning back in it.  In fact despite of everything we did have a huge amount of fun.  We even saw a shark, the dorsal fin was bobbing about in the waves.  The littlest boy was utterly thrilled.  At certain times it had a slight look of a traffic cone to it, but of course we know without a doubt that it was a shark.  And the best bit was that we could tell the big boys when they came home that we'd seen a shark and they would of course be amazed and breathtaken.




On the way back to the car we had to walk into the wind.  The littlest boy battled bravely along, but I felt sorry for him down at sandstorm level so I ended up giving him a piggy back.  We'd parked an astonishingly long way away, and it honestly felt like the Marathon des Sables staggering back.  I can't tell you what utter bliss it was to get into the car and shut the door.  We were covered in salt and sand, and I had red stinging cheeks, gritty eyes and dreadlocks.  The littlest boy was happy as a clam.  I do love holidays, especially the memorable ones.


On the way home we collected the biggest boy from camp as he had a football tournament today.  There was only really time for showers and baths and bed, and breakfast, before we were off out again.  More wind.  A smattering of rain.  Football.  Defeat and victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.  High drama and smoky bacon flavour crisps.  A ten minute lunch at home for me, and then back out into the wind to do a stint cooking on the barbecue at the football tournament (it was our local town's tournament, just down the road from us).  Burgers flipped with a casual expertise that belied the fact that I've never barbecued anything before.  I didn't burn any or drop any or set fire to myself in the wind, so pretty much a triumph really.  And finally home.  The middle boy was back shortly afterwards with bags of things covered in mud, which made a lovely change from the sand.  Apparently he had been underwater.  In all of his clothes.

The biggest boy has a trophy so he's happy.  The middle boy is too exhausted to be happy, but no doubt after he's had some sleep he'll be feeling it.  And the littlest boy channels happy all the live long day, especially so when he is in possession of two new (to him) Lego minifigures.  Oh life is good, it really is.

26 comments:

  1. Isn't it great when everybody is happy, despite the hardship of howling winds, sandpapered skin and the danger of shark attacks? Well, at least you had a superhero with you, just in case! You are just amazing, with only one child left in the house I might have pretended he didn't exist....We have scouts camps coming up, the first one a sleepover next week and then an bird camp and a climbing camp... My two oldest love scouts but don't love so much going to the same group. I bet you'll all sleep like logs tonight. x

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  2. Dedication indeed. I know how it feels to risk sandy eyes when wearing contacts.

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  3. Oh CJ you are wonderful this is brilliant, made me laugh out loud with you you understand! I hope no one calls you tomorrow and asks about those burgers you nonchalantly cooked...........have a great week :)

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  4. What a trip. I can well imagine the wind you experienced because we're having it too. No sand here, just dust and grit in your eyes. My husband went running in it (not that I would recommend such a thing) and came back complaining of dirt in his teeth. I am sure your little one had a blast, especially with ice cream and new-to-him Lego. We have a minifig store here and it can be so expensive. There are some good deals on the used things, though. I'm glad they do that for us regular people. I hope you're sound asleep by now, and that you have a great week. :)

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  5. Sounds like a pretty special weekend all around. You'll need this week to recover! ;-) Have a wonderful week.

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  6. What a wonderful day for your little man! Having his parents to himself and his pick of what he would like to do! Don't you just love how they aren't even phased by things such as high winds?!?! There excitement and joy always come first and how cool to have spotted a shark! Cool for sure since your feet were in the sand and not in the water!!! What a busy mama you are! I hope everyone sleeps well tonight after their busy day! Wishing you a great week CJ!!! Nicole xoxo

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  7. What good parents you are! And to have a shark sighting.. amazing! You are a fun writer, I got a kick out of your account.
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. I prefer going to the beach at any time other than the summer! Much more fun. Looks like a busy, happy weekend. The countdown to GCSEs continues here (they start tomorrow) but I was able to escape for a couple of hours crafting on Saturday. Essential for me to keep smiling and encouraging.
    Enjoy your week. X

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  9. Isn't it great that your family especially the littlest one enjoy such simple pleasures even when the weather isn't perfect! Sounds like a great day out to me and if everyone is happy what more could you want?! Hope that shark doesn't come out onto the beach any time soon!

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  10. My children are teenagers/early twenties now but this post so reminds me of how our life was just a few years ago, your style of writing sums up your life so well, literally going from one thing to the next with hardly time to stop to breathe. Enjoy these busy times, they do pass quickly. And oh my goodness, I know 3 people in our house who would LOVE that Lego shop!

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  11. Precious memories were made for your youngest boy....lovely post, have a good week! Anita xo

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  12. Love it CJ, I love the way you write, you make me chuckle along as I read. What fab parents you are ! Truly dedicated to the cause of keeping three young boys fully occupied.
    Have a great week,
    Kate x

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  13. What an adventure. It's quite special spending time with just one child when there's usually more on outings, it sounds like he had a wonderful holiday. A lovely weekend all round with the camps and football tournament.

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  14. It sounds like a very exhilarating and exhausting time!! I hope that you have recovered and now and are less sandy. I have to wear sunglasses a lot outside and I wear glasses so I perch the sunglasses over the top of my glasses - can't imagine what I look like! - so I know what you mean about needing to keep the wind and sand out of your eyes and contacts. I hope that you have a good week. xx

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  15. Another really delightful post, and lovely photos. What a great day out despite it being rather blowy. Flighty xx

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  16. Aren't they the best days, What a wise Superman to have a jumper over his cape when it is windy!

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  17. Oh to live life without a care such as your little superhero. Those sand blasting walks along the sea walls are exhilarating but so painful! Have a calmer week xx

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  18. Wow that sounds a great day out despite the high wind and your son looks as if he is loving it! We stayed well away from the sea on Saturday as it felt so cold. Sarah x

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  19. Hey CJ,

    I can't believe they charge for the pier. I'm outraged! What a fab day your little boy had. They love it when they have both of you all to themselves. Marc and I had a day like that on Saturday too. Us and Olly at Porthlven. He was indulged with a pasty AND an ice cream. Sam and Alf were furious!
    And when I think about it, WSM and horizontal sand and/or rain go hand in hand in the memories of my childhood.
    Have a great week!
    Leanne xx

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  20. Well, I actually had some beach time this past weekend also, but luckily it wasn't quite so windy! Love the outfit! Good thing he didn't fly away with that cape. My little babe already is showing her own fashion sense. After wearing her terry cloth robe to the beach and getting it covered with sand, she then had to wear it to dinner also, pulling it out of the dirty laundry bag and looking like a prize fighter with the hood up. The things we do for these children that we love! Great photos, sand and all!

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  21. the one day holiday sounds amazing. if truly exhausting x

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  22. Such a great weekend. Really well written C.J. I felt I was there with you guys. You're such a good Mom. I love how your superman had such a fantastic time despite the elements, but then again ... he is super. hehe. I was laughing so hard when you said the middle had apparently spent the weekend underwater and described the drama of your eldest's. Sounds like an action packed but FANTASTIC weekend for everyone. Though I must learn more about smoky bacon chips ...

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  23. What a fantastic weekend. I'd love to live closer to the sea. Your sandstorm walk reminded me of a walk at Fountains Abbey recently. It started to rain so hard (of course at the furthest point from shelter) as we walked. BigR was crying as it was hurting her face. She had to walk behind me in my footsteps. Only LittleR wondered what all the fuss was...cosy under the rain cover in the buggy!!

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  24. I have so enjoyed reading this post and photos. We have done all these things with our sons, and various grandchildren years later. How reassuring that there are still families about who rate Scout camp, a football game and a day at the sea-side as top weekend entertainment! Good for you all and keep on doing what you're doing with those boys!

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  25. So lovely. You are giving your kids the most wonderful childhood, you know. You can tell by the spray coming off the waves in the photos how windy it is on that beach! I like your photos, they look like a windy, bright beach, ie. totally beautiful. x

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  26. This just sounds like heaven. What a joy to see Superman have a fun day off :) xxx

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