full steam ahead

Lesley is 60 later in the week and today was the start of the celebrations (well we were supposed to be in Spain as a large family group) I had hired a decorated beach hut as a surprise. Luckily this morning was fine, sunny and warm so sitting on beach in deckchairs and having a paddle was perfect. Karen had organised a birthday cake to go with the tea and coffee made in the hut which was all very nice and retro. Lesley was pleased with her surprise, well she has had to listen to our stories of loading up a beach hut at the start of our boyhood holidays with balls, cricket set, lilo etc.


As the sun was slowly covered by clouds we moved on for a walk around Shanklin and those iconic thatched buildings along with the same looking tacky gift shops we remember from back when. it was then on to lunch at the Duck in Ryde. Booking good restaurants has proved near impossible this week, everywhere was booked weeks ago. But Karen pulled off a master stroke and contacted a friend who had a good contact with the owner of the Duck and bingo, we had a table. Our other recommendation the Hut is now booked for the whole season as is its reserve list. A wonderful lunch with cocktails for the girls. So good the boys got to choose our next stopover, Havenstreet steam railway and a rather comfortable hour ride in our 3rd Class carriage. So comfortable some struggled to stay awake after the lunch.
By the time we were leaving the steam museum the rain was threatening to start and it has just got worse preventing the planned prosecco in the beach hut this evening. Never mind a good day was had.