…bring the beach to you!
With the heatwave in full swing, I have been having daydreams about going to the beach. Ice creams from beachfront cafes, walking along the edge of the ocean with waves lapping at my bare feet, children playing in the sand, dips in the sea, and generally basking in the blazing sunshine.
However, living as we do in Birmingham, we are somewhat stranded in the middle of the country. It’s a bit of a trek in any direction to get to a beach, and at least several hours drive wherever you’re headed. Money is a bit tight at the moment, thanks to the house move & the surrounding (continuing) drama. James hasn’t got any holiday to spare & we can’t afford the time or money that a day or weekend trip to the beach would cost.
Instead, Georgie, Lydia & myself have been spending a LOT of time in the garden. Despite copious amounts of factor 50, Georgie has started to develop a “healthy summer glow,” and my tan has surpassed the colour I reached on honeymoon in Mexico.
With a new paddling pool complete with inflatable slide delivered at the start of the week (an eBay bargain at £16.99!) and the sandpit one of the favourite toys in the garden, we have been trying our best to make the garden a decent substitute for a summer beach trip. Mini milks, ice cream milkshakes and ice lollies have been devoured whilst sitting outside in the sun, picnic lunches eaten on the patio, and breast feeds and baby cuddles enjoyed in the shady patches.
Our new garden is a sun trap and after the lawn gets the full blast in the morning (warming up the paddling pool to a nice temperature), the sun moves around to heat up the patio, which does a great job of drying wet footprints & damp sand. Georgie keeps gleefully taking off all her clothes and running about the garden naked & full of joy, which is hilarious. She prefers to go in her paddling pool fully dressed, which seems a bit of a juxtaposition if you ask me.
Of course with all the extra time outside, not to mention the oppressive heat, sorting out the new house seems to be going very slowly indeed… we’ll get there soon I’m sure. This weekend is dedicated to getting the living room & dining room sorted out.
Fingers crossed this good weather lasts for the rest of the summer! We’re off to Cornwall at the end of next month, and it would be great to have a few good beach days after all the day dreams I’ve had this week.
I love that paddling pool with the slide! My toddler would
love that too. I know the feeling of being stranded in the middle
of the country – I grew up in Coventry so rarely went to the beach,
but now I”m married to a Plymouth born and bred who spent all
summer at the beach as a child
What a great idea, water, sand and refreshments on tap – I’d say that was a perfect compromise. The paddling pool with built in slide is fab and I can see they are having so much fun outdoors, thanks for sharing with Country Kids.
Bringing the beach to the back garden by @zoecorkhill with #CountryKids.
Bringing the beach to the back garden with #CountryKids.