Holiday weather

There was a positive aspect to missing our flight on Monday and arriving on holiday five hours later. We had planned to arrive, have a coffee, unpack, and wander round town, picking up a few supplies, before showering and changing for dinner. Instead we arrived in a town which had endured a five hour electric storm and heavy rain, only the second time it had rained since June. Some of the seafront restaurants had closed for the evening, their al fresco dining made uncomfortable or even unsafe. So we just grabbed some wine and pasta and commented on how muddy it was.

The main promenade is being dug up and relaid here. Reportedly, it was supposed to happen during the winter, and although it paused in August, it continued through the summer.

This is, of course, not good for the sea-front pavement cafés, especially in a recession. They have had to shut completely on certain days, and the dust, noise and lack of vehicular access/parking has made them less attractive to customers - although, frankly, I find the intermittent noise of roadworks preferable to the constant roar of traffic that blights so many sitting-and-eating areas. And the dust of sand and cement, especially so close to the beach, is less unpleasant than petrol/diesel fumes. But we have been deliberately avoiding bars/cafés when the digger or cement mixer is working directly outside.

There was a bit of excitement yesterday when some men came to drill holes n the newly laid paving stones. It turns out they have 'lost' the gas pipes which were laid just before the slabs. They couldn't find them; they might have to dig the slabs up again!

We are on a cul de sac just off the beach road, could hardly be nearer to the beach. That's nice: it means we can go for a swim without worrying about carrying valuables to the beach, without having to change out of swim wear on the beach. Although it does mean that for the first time in several years, and, indeed, probably ever, I have taken to walking through construction sites in a bikini. What is very sad is that the construction workers don't seem to notice.

On Tuesday the beach was very deserted; yesterday it got a lot busier, but the weather turned and those of a more wussy temperament scurried off. We decided to play 'last off the beach'. We nearly didn't make it, because a couple a few yards from us decided to play tennis to keep warm. We eventually outlasted them, and we got inside just as the rain came down. The rain brought a few kids out onto the beach, and I actually saw someone walk past in a Sou' Wester!

Today was hot and calm when we went to swim. After brunch, we went for a walk along the coast, out of the centre of town, round a headland or two to rockier, quieter beaches. It did feel windy; we assumed that it was because they were exposed, but when we returned to the central beach, no one but three teenage lads were in the sea (the red flag for danger was flying) and few were in the sea.

Still, the forecast is set to be clear, sunny, hot and dry!

Comments

[Faye xx]

It's bad enough that you missed your original flight but you will be just gutted when you discover that you also missed Katherine Jenkins on Strictly Come Dancing tonight. Hopefully it will show up on You Tube soon xx

[raffe]

Hi Geraldine, how are you? Long time no comments from the frozen North...but now we're getting in gear for Tamerlano. So what do you reckon are good dates for dates with darling D?? best wishes, raffe

[your sister]

Oh dear luv...is it that windy you've got to hold onto your hat?

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

Have just returned from Spain though we were further along the coast and hate to say that we had clear blue skies and hot hot hot sun for the entire week we were there. I hope some of it reached you both.

I came back to watch Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer and was horrified to see KJ turn up. Fast forwarded IMMEDIATELY. She really is utterly ghastly and if one more person introduces her as an opera singer I shall spontaneously combust.

Just finished reading a great book from Yale UP on history of the tenor voice will beposting about it this week so you may be interested in seeing it...or not as the case may be!

[Gert]

I was fully aware that KJ was going to be on SCD. Why else did I flee the country? To be honest, I think she is so unbelievably smug and condescending that she will get her come-uppance one day. The longer we have to wait, the bigger it will be and the more to savour. General principle in life - don't big yourself up by looking down on other people, because you end up looking a total tit when *something* happens.

Raffe, it seems that all dates are the right date for Tamerlano: please ensure that you let me know your details so we can meet up before, after, during etc

Elaine - I see that you have just posted your review!

To my sister - at least we escaped the really unbearably hot temperatures;-)