Swimmin’ in the Rain

Why it happens no-one knows, but it is almost a certainty that if we have had a bit of reasonable weather, which we did, that it will disappear the moment we hit a long week-end, especially Easter.

Easter has always marked the beginning of the season. I grew up  in a seaside holiday town and throughout the winter months everything was locked down tight, so other than the cinema and youth activities, like St Johns and Guides there was little going on for us natives, as I got a bit older there was the coffee bar, but that’s a whole other story!

But as soon as Easter arrived, whether rain or shine, the first of the hardy holiday makers would arrive by the coachload and spill out into the town.

Rain or shine the brave, or foolish, would swim in the sea, including us local kids, just to prove we were tough, and I could also run barefoot across the stony beach, strangely not a life skill that has proved to be of much use to me since then!

The hotels and B&B’s would open up at early season rates, the pier would take down the shutters, the theatres would gear up for the summer season entertainments anticipating packed houses, the aquarium would open up, the ice cream parlour’s restaurants and chip shops would start to open extended hours. Most would have either closed down for the winter or tailored their opening hours for the indigenous population, so maybe opening Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch only.

The exception was The Blue Moon Café, which was open all year and it was rumoured that if a gentleman (I use the term very loosely) asked for tea and two spoons, he would get his “afters” served upstairs.

So rain or shine the town would begin to come alive, as if emerging, like a living organism, from winter hibernation.

Things haven’t changed much in terms of the season, I have a caravan at a different seaside location and this Easter week-end the whole place was opened up and surging with people, especially Friday, which was the one really good day of this long week-end.

Well, actually yes, maybe one thing has definitely changed, I don’t do cold weather swimming these days, I may be daft but I’m not stupid!!