Seaside holidays

I’m convinced that people who live by the seaside are happier

Sorry to spoil that thought Sara65 but I live about 2 minutes from the sea and I'm the most miserable cow you could ever meet.

There is something about walking on the beach that always makes me cry.

Oh please don't talk about the sea! I was brought up near the sea and miss it with every fibre of my being! Current caring situation means I cannot get to the sea - boo hoo!

As well as living near the sea in Essex, we used to go to my grandmother's in Lympstone, a tiny fishing village in Devon, for a lot of each summer. I remember hanging off the harbour wall with a string and a pin and trying to catch fish - never caught anything, but that did not spoil the fun.

We used to go to Exmouth from there and I remember the donkey rides, the punch and judy, and, above all else, the activities that were organised on the beach by Eagle, Girl and Robin magazines - anyone else remember that? And I remember looking out for Lobby Ludd in hopes of winning money!

And all up the cliff gardens when night fell, there were little tableaux with little gnomes and fairies in them and all lit up - and the bushes were alive with coloured lights. We thought it was magical.

In my school holidays I used to work for Rossi's, the Italian ice cream company, on the seafront at Southend-on-Sea - I used to sell ice cream, do the washing up (in some filthy water as I recall), and try and avoid the Italian bottom-pinching!

I also worked in a local children's home in the holiday before going to uni, and my strongest happy recollection of that is taking about 10 children to the beach on my own - I was 16!!!!

With our own family we spent many happy times at the St Davids festival - concerts in the evenings and beach/walking during the day. I hope so much that one day it might be possible to do this again.

Get me to the sea!!!!!

We didn’t have many summer holidays, but one I do remember was when we went with friends of my parents to a holiday camp. I think it was Deal, but so long ago now. Neither family had a car, so it meant a train journey, and were than picked up from the station by a sort of bus! When we arrived, it was dire. Broken door handle on our chalet, grimy windows, cobwebs galore, and so mum and ‘auntie’ spent the rest of the day cleaning their respective holiday homes. I think we, the children, must have enjoyed our stay, but the first impression has stayed with me for more than 60 years.
I can also remember being taken in a sidecar, on mum and dad’s tandem, to a camp site at Runnymede. We knew how to live it up in them days

EllanVannin

I’m so envious!

I love the seaside, just come back from a few days by the sea, sitting on the beach with my book, people watching, ice creams, lazy strolls, absolute heaven!

I’m convinced that people who live by the seaside are happier

I'm lucky in living 5 minutes from the seaside/prom. All downhill, it's the coming back that takes your breath away a bit, but there's nowhere nicer on a fine day than walking along the prom eating a Mr Whippy.

Oh yes, seaside holidays! Wonderful. I am sure we have all got lovely memories of them from when we were small.

We tended to go to Devon and Cornwall most years - never abroad. I remember we once went to Wales but it rained so much that was the one and only time!

We always stayed in hotels as my mum quite rightly thought that self catering holidays in, say, a cottage were no holiday for the woman.

I can clearly remember going down to breakfast in the hotel and smelling the delicious aroma of bacon frying.

If it was fine we would go to the beach for a while for a swim but dad always wanted to explore the area so then we would dry off, get dressed and bundle in the car and off we'd go.

If it was a wet day I remember cinema trips. In those days there seemed to be so many films suitable for all ages - even war films.

Then late afternoon it was back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. This was always very exciting for me as I had been bought some new dresses for the evening and I was allowed to stay up late!

Wonderful memories.