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We probably not realise what wonderful towns we have on the British coast, especially if we go abroad for our holidays. Never mind about the Canaries, you don't need a passport to get to Bridlington or Brighton, even if the seaside postcard stereotype of Punch and Judy shows, raining all day (as if we knew where to get water because of the sea), and "kiss-me-quick" hats all coming to mind. (Apologies to anyone outside Great Britain reading this). I would probably be looking inside the local WHSmith for a local newspaper and a postcard or two instead.
Around 1984, my Infant school offered my year a daytrip to Skegness (aka Nottingham-by-the-Sea) by train which took about two hours to get there - it was probably the first time I had even visited a coastal town. My late mother always used to prefer east coast towns against west coast ones such as Blackpool - probably because she had a bad experience there once, but not in the Alan Bradley vein thank goodness! I mentioned the Blackpool Pontins before - a huge mistake staying there for reasons that I cannot go into.
Mablethorpe was just like Skegness only smaller - a Sunday coach ride during the school holidays circa 1990, starting off on the A52 and then onto the A46 towards Newark and Lincoln (although ironically the A52 eventually arrives in Mablethorpe itself of one follows it from Nottingham). A bit of the A158 east of Lincoln and we were on our way, although we stopped at a farm place near Rand (where the youngsters thought we were already there). Taking notice of road signs and places called Wragby, Market Rasen, Ludford, Horncastle and Legbourne, and getting in Mablethorpe at around 12.30 pm. Someone had written "Wacaday" in the sand there, presumably for Timmy Mallet's benefit in order for a selfie to be sent to the TV-am show. And there was always a couple who disappeared into a pub - never to be seen again.
I suppose that seaports such as Liverpool, Southampton and Plymouth are marginal in that respect - they are cities which have urban areas along to the nearest coast - and the white cliffs of Dover where the edge of the land is higher than sea level.
These days, I stay for a few days in a Premier Inn in the relevant town and visit the local theatre in time for my birthday. I love Cornwall and areas like Penzance and Land's End. As I said before, I am looking at Bournemouth this year because of the annual Air Festival and the theatre offering. I was considering Bridlington last year (Cannon and Ball at the Bridlington Spa ahoy - and I nearly did book tickets as well), until Berkshire took my fancy. I was so close to staying in Southend a few years back, but alas, my favourite hotel chain's rooms were all occupied by the time I tried to book.
Do you think that good old British coastal towns are better than their counterparts on the continent? After all, you never hear British hotels say "don't drink the water"...
Around 1984, my Infant school offered my year a daytrip to Skegness (aka Nottingham-by-the-Sea) by train which took about two hours to get there - it was probably the first time I had even visited a coastal town. My late mother always used to prefer east coast towns against west coast ones such as Blackpool - probably because she had a bad experience there once, but not in the Alan Bradley vein thank goodness! I mentioned the Blackpool Pontins before - a huge mistake staying there for reasons that I cannot go into.
Mablethorpe was just like Skegness only smaller - a Sunday coach ride during the school holidays circa 1990, starting off on the A52 and then onto the A46 towards Newark and Lincoln (although ironically the A52 eventually arrives in Mablethorpe itself of one follows it from Nottingham). A bit of the A158 east of Lincoln and we were on our way, although we stopped at a farm place near Rand (where the youngsters thought we were already there). Taking notice of road signs and places called Wragby, Market Rasen, Ludford, Horncastle and Legbourne, and getting in Mablethorpe at around 12.30 pm. Someone had written "Wacaday" in the sand there, presumably for Timmy Mallet's benefit in order for a selfie to be sent to the TV-am show. And there was always a couple who disappeared into a pub - never to be seen again.
I suppose that seaports such as Liverpool, Southampton and Plymouth are marginal in that respect - they are cities which have urban areas along to the nearest coast - and the white cliffs of Dover where the edge of the land is higher than sea level.
These days, I stay for a few days in a Premier Inn in the relevant town and visit the local theatre in time for my birthday. I love Cornwall and areas like Penzance and Land's End. As I said before, I am looking at Bournemouth this year because of the annual Air Festival and the theatre offering. I was considering Bridlington last year (Cannon and Ball at the Bridlington Spa ahoy - and I nearly did book tickets as well), until Berkshire took my fancy. I was so close to staying in Southend a few years back, but alas, my favourite hotel chain's rooms were all occupied by the time I tried to book.
Do you think that good old British coastal towns are better than their counterparts on the continent? After all, you never hear British hotels say "don't drink the water"...
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