It never Rainer's

 

My Happy Place #1.

Indy & I love coming here. I started coming as a baby, 60 plus years ago, sitting on the platform of my parent's beach hut. They rented a spot from the council, which let them put up a 12 x 6 pallet base, topped off with a canvas tent. We stored all our beach kit there; deckchairs, a primus stove, buckets & spades, flotina surf boards, cozzies & towels. 

My grandfather would sit on his folding chair, trousers up above his waistband, shirt opened a few buttons showing his vest, and observe "the birds" through his binoculars. My Grandmother would don a bathing costume made of thicker material than the tent, and a rubber bathing cap, adorned with appliqué flowers. She would then launch herself into the waves, & proceed to swim "sidestroke" across the bay. Luckily commercial whale hunting was banned in these waters. I never did find out if "sidestroke" was a recognised discipline - suffice to say it never became an olympic discipline.

Now I come with Indy, our cockapoo, as it's one of the few places I can let him off his lead - in the enclosed tennis court behind the huts. He has always preferred chasing anything to returning to me. 

I also come here when I'm feeling pensive or low, and sit & think over these words :-e in Verona