Last week summer finally arrived in the UK, albeit brief. Me and the family decided to take advantage of this small window of opportunity to go to the coast. The clouds parted, and off we went, dog in tow, to join the cues of other optimistic British seaside revellers. The first thing the dog did when we arrived at our sandy destination at Mudeford was dump in front of some other beach-goers. Faces of disgust as she curled a steaming one out. Think she'd been holding this one in for quite sometime.
With all body wet suit on....not me, Oscar, he paddled and splashed without hesitation into our biting cold English Channel, seemingly unaware of the chill. I, like a big kid...NOT...did as much as dip my toe in. Too early in the year for full body immersion.
On Wednesday I said farewell to my sister Nessa, and the kids, Josh and Dan who were bound for Chicago, US early on Thursday to stay for the next two years. My brother-in-law James, having been poached by the Americans wanting his talent in the business world is already out there supposedly getting the apartment ready for family habitation. Probably just sat around in his undercrackers drinking lager and consuming large portions of meat just like his new American neighbours.
So to mark the farewell, we had an obligatory family bbq at my other sisters' house. Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon followed by photo opportunities and a few tears shed as we said our goodbyes.
Nessa's in the middle with my wife far left, mum to the left, my sister Cilla on the right.
Communication between here and the otherside of the Atlantic never gonna be a problem for those family chats, as I've now invested in a cheap webcam.....Roger...last of the big spenders. "Short arms and deep pockets"....That's me!
