I’m putting my feet up in the evening after a cracking summer day on the Isle of Wight. I’m sunburned, knackered but chuffed because we had a great day.
We went to the beach, taking our ten year old granddaughter for her first beach experience. She’d been on a beach once before but not for the proper bucket and spade, swim in the sea experience.
It’s my belief that all kids should experience the simple pleasures in building sand castles, jumping through waves and eating ice creams. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune and it creates experiences they’ll remember for their entire lives.
I know some folk are born at the seaside. Lucky devils. But for us city dwellers, there’s something special in being by the sea.
I reckon there’s something else. My grandmother was born on the Isle of Wight. Her adult life led her to Coventry, but it was through her we went there as kids and set my love of the seaside in motion.
We went on seaside holidays. I still remember learning to swim, exploring rock pools and Knickerbocker Glories. I might be easily pleased, but I loved it.
So yes, I’m a strong advocate for getting the kids to the seaside if you can. It matters. Trust the old sea dog, I know what I’m on about…
It helps as an adult in a similar way. Here’s the thing: I want my granddaughter, Ellie, to have a brilliant time — like I did as I child. And because of my own experiences it guided me what to do for my granddaughter.
First, we went to Shanklin. And straight onto the beach. We’d had the foresight to get my Ellie and me sea shoes.
Those amazing rubber shoes that allow you to walk over pebbles and stone without ending up looking like your arse broke and your ability to walk suddenly upped and left. Leaving you hobbling and wincing as you step on stones with bare feet.
We went down to the sea and I waded in declaring it as warm as a bath, while disguising the fact that it froze me to my core.
Ellie followed, up to her ankles and stopped.
‘Are you okay?’
She looked at me. ‘I’m alright here.’
‘Nah, c’mon, you’re not in the sea.’
‘Er, I’m frightened,’ she said. And I could see she looked nervous.
Here’s what I did. I looked into water and saw a stone a few feet away. So I took her by the hand. ‘We’ll go as far as that stone.’
She nodded and we did. The sea behaved itself. So we stood there for a while. I scanned ahead and found another stone. We repeated the process. Several more times. Until Ellie was up to her waist and laughing as we jumped up for each wave. I didn’t let go of her hand the whole time.
Next, we waded back and sat in the shallows, letting the sea wash over us. Ellie loved that, too. I made a point of showing her how to spot eddies and currents offering the advice to stay well away from those.
We then moved on to Sandown. The day heated up so we stopped for cool drinks, then set up on the beach. This time, Ellie got in the sea. But being a new spot I showed her how to be cautious about depth, the seabed and those currents. Proper sea dog, me.
Next, we did the sitting on the shallows part. I started to get a numb butt and stood up. Except I didn’t. I tried and plonked back down. Which Ellie found hilarious. I did it again on purpose to make it look like I meant it.
After a couple of tries, I managed to lever myself up. Wincing at the ache in my knees. Like I said, proper sea dog. An ageing one.
But the main thing? Ellie had a brilliant day and now has the confidence to enjoy the sea. She wants to go to the beach tomorrow. Fine by me. My knees are not so sure.
I know some folk will think I’m making too big a deal out of this. It’s the seaside, so what? But to me, it’s also memories. And that matters.
Right, this old sea dog is going to have an early night. To let the limbs recover before I take on another sea excursion tomorrow. I’ll avoid sitting for too long in the sea. In case the limbs decide to give up.