Yesterday, the sun shone, just as it is today. Often on an Winter’s day when we get a high sitting over us and we happen to be not compelled to work, we will head up the coast to Southwold. We last went there on New Year’s Eve.
I forgot that it was half-term until we got there. Not quite as full as our December visit but full enough. Painted wellies, Cath Kidston bags and metallic ballet pumps, hundreds of kids and dogs were de rigueur. I think London must have been empty.
We managed to dodge all these obstacles and walk along the prom from Gun Hill to the Pier. I do like a pier. It was heaving with be-wellied and be-Kidstoned punters.
Mrs O had a look on her face. One of those ‘I have not yet had my coffee’ type looks. I’m sure many of you will connect with such looks. You just know that something is not right. So being next to the cafe on the pier we decided to caffeine up.
Only she didn’t. On the chalk board was ‘Open Fish Finger Sandwich’. We had only been talking about fish finger sandwiches during the week, and me being from the North, such things and chip butties were commonplace as I grew up. Such a delight as a fish finger sandwich had never passed Mrs O’s lips so it was I that that had the coffee and scone whilst she went for the sandwich. Mrs O was very pleased. Visually it did nothing for me as it was more a case four very long goujons and not your Findus or Birds Eye breadcrumbed fish of indeterminate origin. We were both pleased though she with her first ever Fish Finger Sandwich and me with my fruit scone and coffee.
We could have sat there for a while in the full sun but for the cacophony emanating from behind me. How can one small child make such a noise? The parent were oblivious so off we went to enjoy more of the winter sun and the peace and quiet of the deserted end of the sea front.