Sprightly, in Brightlingsea...

We managed a quick day trip to visit our friends in Brightlingsea, and had our usual 'whatever the weather' walk by the sea. It threatened to rain the whole time, but didn't, so we had wonderful dark, glowering skies, mudflats and metallic grey water on one side, and golden fields on the other, brightening briefly under sudden shafts of sunlight.

Of course, the weather never manages to put off the hardy souls who are determined to enjoy a day by the seaside, and the water was filled with kids, and the water-side with more kids catching crabs. When I asked one mum what they would do with all the crabs in their bucket she looked bewildered for a moment then said, 'Chuck 'em back in!' Poor crabs.

Off to the cafe for lunch, and the best view in town. You'll have to go there yourself, and buy chips, if you want to see what the best view actually looks like...

Then home again, past the beach huts, the gorgeous 'patchworked pine' workshop, hollyhocks, and a crumbling painted and repainted wall, for cherry and almond pie. A grand day out!

Viva Las Vegas...

Or, welcome to Clacton. One of the 'big three' - Walton-on-the-Naze, Frinton-on-sea and Clacton-on-sea - of C's youth, the promise of the hottest day of the year so far meant a trip to the seaside on Thursday,  to meet up with C's sister and her partner, and the GG's littlest cousin.

We sat in the shade of the pier, the cousins splashing in and out of the water quite happily while the grown ups chatted and occasionally popped out to glow recklessly in the heat for a while. The GG was clearly channeling Marilyn Monroe, in a polka dot one piece swimsuit, and blonder-than-usual hair!

I've never been to Las Vegas, but surely it can't be any better than Clacton's penny (okay, 2p and 10p) arcades? I'm sure I would have exactly the same feeling there as here; that I might just as well empty my money straight into a large bag marked 'loot' in the owner's private office, whilst he sits there shaking his head in disbelief and occasionally wiping a tear from the corner of his eye as he chuckles uncontrollably...

The architecture on the road leading down to the pier has that slightly faded, wrought-iron balconied look that I imagine New Orleans might have. It reminded me of places I've seen in other coastal towns round Britain, as well as in South Africa and Disneyland! No-one actually sits on them, it seems - perhaps the iron is now a little over-wrought for comfort and safety, and the balconies are just for show these days?

Walking under the pier was strange and other worldly, all shadows and light, splashes and echoes.

On top of the pier, mostly light and very few shadows - including these three, who just followed us around everywhere!

A proper seaside day out, then. I had a giggle with the in-laws, the girl ate cockles, we three had chips, everyone got their feet wet, at least, and we discovered sand in unmentionable places when we got home. Perfect!

...beside the seaside, beside the sea!

We took a trip to the coast at the weekend to visit some old friends. Their garden is always changing - it started out as an overgrown jungle, which they transformed into a veggie plot contained in raised beds with some flowers dotted around. Now it's three quarters flowers, with a smaller veggie plot tucked away at the far end.

They brought some massive pots with them when they moved in, from the days when they lived in a flat with only a courtyard, and these look incredibly elegant lining the pathway. There are plans afoot to lay a camomile lawn in between the flagstones!

We always try to fit in a stroll down to the sea front when we visit - whether it's bracing on a cold day or relaxing on a warm day, all that sea air means we usually sleep very well that night! There are always inspiring things to catch the eye on the meander down there.

Like this little house...

Or this workshop, with its Vivienne Westwood/Union Flag-style door...

Or the ubiquitous, rusty, corrugated iron fence...

And this garden, with its nautical style...

The pool was closed...

...but perhaps that was because everyone was out at sea!

While writing this I suddenly remembered going on the Sunday School Trip - when a convoy of double decker buses would leave the city to head off to the coast for the day. I call it the Sunday School Trip, but it seemed to involve the whole community, all crammed onto the buses, singing the whole time - Three Craws Sat Upon A Wa', Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff The Bus, or Ten Green Bottles. Festooned with balloons, and with multi-coloured streamers unfurling from the upstairs windows, each bus left a fluttering rainbow in its wake, and we kids were beside ourselves with excitement.

My favourite song was the one which would erupt at any moment, usually before the bus even set off. Someone near the front (or back) would start singing 'The back (or the front) ae the bus, they cannae sing, cannae sing fur peanuts.' Challenge accepted, the back (or the front) would reply in kind. On and on it would go, getting louder and more raucous by the minute. I guess those unfortunates stuck in the middle would simply move the imaginary cut-off point a few rows forwards or backwards in their heads and quietly assign themselves to the 'winning' team, until the next time. The singing and the streamers are my only vague memory of the day - other than the sandwiches and drinks handed out for the picnic, which seemed terribly exotic to me. Must have left its mark - I still enjoy the 'surprise' of an airline meal (I know!) and once in a blue moon, sitting on the top deck of a crowded bus, the urge to start singing 'Aw, the front ae the bus they cannae sing....!' is almost overwhelming!

After a lovely weekend, today is a bit dreich - so that means no excuse for not sorting out the studio and getting on with some work!