Down on the (colourful) beach

Spent the day with son and granddaughter on the beach at Folkestone.

I planned the trip to coincide with high tide thinking the bay would be filled not anticipating that the whole beach would be covered by water right up to the sea wall leaving crowds of people packed on the promenade waiting for the waters to recede.

We stayed on the grassy cliff tops for lunch instead braving the crowds packed in cheek by jowls down below.

By the time we finally made it down to the beach the merest sliver of sand had appeared allowing families and groups to stake their claim on the shore.

For the third time in as many weeks I went in the sea. Three times this month after a 5 year gap in the English seas. Much easier to get in the cool waters than the previous occasions. Granddaughter and I had a great time splashing around with dozens of other people doing the same.

The cold eventually drove me from the water and we made our way to the adventure playgrounds along the Lower Lees Country Park.

Still hot when we arrived home, ate dinner outside again - even at 10.30pm it was 22c outside. Looks like it might get a little cooler after Tuesday but there doesn’t appear to be much rain in the forecast.