The Beach Goods Shop


The beach goods shop is so much more than buckets and spades
it's childhood memories
go onto one and take a deep breath - that is my childhood
the colours and smells
remember the smell of a new plastic woven wind-break?
It's family trips
it's days out at the beach
summer holidays when the summer weather could be relied upon
sunburn and sandcastles
no such thing 'after sun' in those days
sand in the sandwiches 
Grandad with a knotted hanky on his head
sat in a deckchair
suit trousers and best shoes
shirt and tie in the summer heat 
a stewed cup of tea from a Thermos flask 
and the obligatory holiday snaps - they still get rolled out now
embarrassing us
me wearing a red spotty swimming costume
splashing in the shallows
of course there was the obligatory icecream
proper ice-cream naturally
with a flake in it
and we'd get it all over our faces
and Mum would wipe it off with a damp hanky!
Day done - it was falling asleep in the car on the way home
no car seats in those days
three children all slumped together on the back seat
sunburn was red raw the next morning 
that's how you know you'd had a great day!
All those memories 
from walking into the beach goods shop!
Pop into one the next time you're at the beach
...happy days


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