Mersea Memories

Off the coast of Essex there is an island called Mersea, which has a lot of memories for us.

It's where Mike's Mum moved to after she was widowed, in a house we all loved, looking out onto the estuary (see extra for the house now). We used to escape there with other friends from the college where we met, and go sailing on Mike's laser. 

And 35 years ago, amongst the beach huts, is where he asked me to marry him for the second time, and I said yes. Later, we'd go out on the laser with Deb when she was a few months old - we must have been mad. Pulling Mike's Mum to the shops on a sledge through deep snow; so cold even the sea froze. Iridescent jellyfish in the water. Walking all the way round the island.

It's where we lived when we came back from Brazil one time, so we'd be nearer to Deb as she began boarding school in Sevenoaks, and we could fetch her home every other weekend. Paul had his first spell of public schooling there, and Julia went to a lovely Montessori nursery.

It's where their family's yacht, the Charlotte Emma, was eventually relaunched into the water; many happy days sailing on her.

Anyway, decided to celebrate the last of the sunny days by driving there today, and meeting up with friends in their garden; walking along the beach huts, and out at the eastern end of the island, where we both sank into the famous Mersea mud, right up to our knees.

Gratefuls:
- so many happy memories of this place
- fish and chips in Steve and Margaret's garden
- sea air and sunshine