Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…..I really, really do. And none more than my childhood holiday destination of Broadstairs, in Kent.
It is probably an hours drive from where we live, but as a small girl seemed such a lavish and tropical far flung location. We camped, mostly, but also stayed in a handful of seafront hotels, apartments, cottages and B&Bs over the years. That was when we were being REALLY posh.
My family events to the coast were never a dull affair. Aunties, Uncles, Friends, Cousins, the lady from up the road, other random friends of my parents etc etc would rock up each day. A real pick n mix of special people all making a temporary island of blankets and beach towels, deck chairs and umberellas; marking off a significant portion of the beach for our own.
Family from way up North would decend for 2 weeks each August, and would hire a beach hut or two where we could snuggle up in our towels after a chilly dip in the sea, make a brew with the gas stove and eat chips out of the bag. I can still remember the smell of the gas stove and hot chocolate, like yesterday.
If you’ve ever been to Viking Bay in Broadstairs, you’ll know it is somewhat frozen in time. The beach hasn’t changed in my lifetime, nor (as I’m assured) in my Mums either. Pictures of my Grandpa as a small boy on the beach could have been taken last week. Even the beach images 100 years old in my parents home, showing bathers in huts wheeled into the sea, show the place in the same glory as today.
And then, there is Morrellis. The ice cream parlour on the cliff top pavilion. I don’t think as a child, there could be any food more impressive as a knickerbockerglory. Twice the size of me, zero chance of ever being finished. But that didn’t stop our parents treating us every holiday while they tucked in to a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or a hot chocolate fudge cup sundae. The place is totally unchanged, exactly how it has always been. The 1950s decor, the smell of coffee and ice cream and the illuminated fountain I can remember putting my tiny fingers into.
The beach itself is really well catered for families; the elevator down the cliff to the sandy beach was put back In use a few years ago, there are well maintained toilets, a cafe, and even a children’s play area. The same one I queued up for the swing boats for, day after day, 30 years ago.
So the family tradition still stands, and this weekend, our extended family from the North came back for a reunion weekend. The children I remember now, like me, parents themselves. Armed with sun cream, sun tents, buckets and spades, picnic hampers and windbreaks, we established our usual spot on the beach, by the cafe sign.
The magic for me is in the simplicity. No TV, no iPads, phones, games, or even toys. The children had the time of their lives in and out of the sea (not seeming to feel the cold). Searching for shells on the shoreline. Jumping in the waves with Nanny and Grandad at low tide, magical memories being made across 3 generations. Digging holes in the sand; filling them In again (usually containing a member of our party). Not a care in the world, even for the amount of sand that covered every inch of their sun creamed little bodies. A break from the bedtime routine; fish and chip supper at dusk on the pier. Being one of the last on the beach and feeling the temperature drop; snuggling up into joggers and hoodies.
So much the same as I remember, yet there is one thing different. Little did I realise all those years ago the feeling our parents had watching us so happy and free, soaking up our childhood right before their eyes. Now I understand the magic….and I’m paying it forward. I can only hope one day my girls might return to their childhood seaside, maybe with their own children, and treasure their memories the way I always will.
therealmilitaryhousewife August 9, 2015
You had me at knickerbockerglory. Pure magic and beautifully written x
mummuddlingthrough August 10, 2015
Thanks Hun. I’m just an old romantic, can’t beat the feeling of nostalgia. X MMT
therealmilitaryhousewife August 10, 2015
Ah I’m an old romantic too. In my mind my childhood is full of bluebells and picnics and fairies and train rides. I hope our children can look back and feel the same warmth that we do. Thanks for sharing your slice of heaven. xx
chloelifeunexpected August 10, 2015
This does sound so magical. We went on a bit of a nostalgic trip this week and it was so precious seeing my daughter make memories somewhere I have made so many myself. It’s so great to get some screen free time as well and really enjoy the outdoors. This is such a beautiful post. xx #maternitymondays
farmerswifeandmummy August 10, 2015
oh it looks like a beautiful place and yay for recreating childhood memories. Such a lovely thing to do. #MaternityMondays
Laura @ Life with Baby Kicks August 10, 2015
Magical – I want to come!! #maternitymondays
mummuddlingthrough August 10, 2015
Come! Anyone is welcome, we’ll be by the cafe sign 😉 xx MMT
Picking Up Toys August 10, 2015
Ah this is lovely!Reminds me of childhood trips to Tenby and I want to go looking for crabs now lol x #BabyBrainMonday
mummuddlingthrough August 10, 2015
🙂 we used to catch the most enormous red back crabs in the rock pools! Or…maybe we were just much smaller?! 😉 Thanks for reading x MMT
Coombe Mill August 11, 2015
Lovely to bring back memories from times gone by and revisit a special place. This clearly has so many favourites times for you. #Twinklytuesday
thesingleswan August 11, 2015
Lovely post. It makes me wish I were by the sea watching the calm and tranquil waves. thanks
mudpiefridays August 11, 2015
Ah it sounds brilliant, may have to look it up as we are not that far from Kent. How lovely to have all the generations there too 🙂 #BabyBrainMondays
littleoandme August 12, 2015
This is such a wonderful post. I have fond memories of beach holidays as a child, everything seems so magical. I would love to visit one day, that icecream parlour sounds fab!
Becky x
#Best&worst
Becky, Cuddle Fairy August 12, 2015
Awwww I know just how you feel! I had the kids in the US for three weeks & we got to do things I did when I was little – it was amazing! I hadn’t realized how much I missed that living in Ireland #famjamlinky x
Sarah Howe (@RunJumpScrap) August 13, 2015
Oh my goodness this is such a lovely post! You didn’t need any piccys as I was imagining it all like reading a book! What a lovely family tradition, so wholesome and fun. I bet it is a completely different experience seeing it as a parent and like you said paying it forward! Who knows..you may be the grandparent one day too!! Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst and see you again!!
mummuddlingthrough August 13, 2015
Thank you Sarah x
mummascribbles August 14, 2015
This post is magical, I was right there with you on the beach eating fish and chips and ice cream! I think we visited broad stairs a few years ago pre-Zach (it was actually the holiday where we decided to start trying for a baby so holds very special memories.). I’d now love to go back though, having read this post and live it out for real! Just gorgeous:) Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
mummuddlingthrough August 14, 2015
How lovely, bet that was a special time for you both. thanks for reading and taking time to comment x MMT
Sarah August 14, 2015
This is lovely to read. We are in Kent and we love Broadstairs as well. #PicknMix
mummuddlingthrough August 14, 2015
The garden of England! Well, some parts more like a back yard 😉 but it’s home, and it’s where my heart is! thanks for stopping by, neighbour ❤️ x MMT
Harps August 14, 2015
Ahh this sounds like bliss! Especially having no phones of iPads – I feel like I need a detox from technology! Thanks for linking up to #babybrainmonday xxx
mummuddlingthrough August 15, 2015
Thanks again Hun, know exactly what you mean! Just got a new iPhone so can’t put it down at the mo! #newtoy x MMT
mummaknows August 17, 2015
What a great ending to this – the magic is something only parents can really understand. Great tradition. Thanks for linking with #famjamlinky
Mummyandmonkeys August 20, 2015
I have always wanted to go in a beach hut and never have. I’ve taken the boys back to places that I used to go to as a kid and you see them in a whole new light! Thanks so much for linking to #PickNMix
mummuddlingthrough August 21, 2015
I’d love to own one wouldn’t that be amazing! Think the choice of house or hut would probably stop that dream ever becoming a reality?!! #oneday x MMT thanks for reading hun
Jenny Eaves August 27, 2015
It’s lovely that you have such great memories of the beach and of sitting in the beach huts. I’ve never been in a beach hut, I don’t think I’ve ever even been to a beach with them before! But they are very picture postcardesque. Lovely that you can spend time without any technology as well, sometimes it’s good to get away from it all!
Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
chloelifeunexpected August 30, 2015
What a magical post. The way you described it made me feel like i was right there with you. What a wonderful place to spend your childhood and so beautiful that you can now do the same with your children, only now feeling the same things your parents felt about you. It must be quite magical for them too seeing another generation there. I love that it hasn’t changed, it sounds like it adds to the character of the place. Thank you so much for linking this to #whatevertheweather x