Rain, sea and sand

It's never too cold for ice-cream!

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On the first day of our Bank holiday weekend, we decided to head to the beach. Following a recommendation from a friend (thanks Fiona), we went to Talacre beach in North Wales. Although the weather wasn't great when we set off, it wasn't bad enough to put us off. However, the second we arrived at the beach and got out of the car it started to rain. Since we'd driven 65 miles to get there, we were determined to make the best of it and wrapped the children up in cardigans and raincoats. The Podlings aren't put off by a little rain and wet sand makes better sandcastles anyway!

We all had an ice-cream and had fun playing in the sand. Tom invented 'letter castles', which are sandcastles with letters of the alphabet on top (he is obsessed with letters and reading at the moment). Mark built a sandcastle, wrote a letter on the top and then Tom jumped on it. They got to P before Tom decided he wanted to go in the sea. It was cold and wet and windy, but go in the sea they must. Mark is as crazy as the children when it comes to water! The three of them were paddling in the waves, raincoats and all, for ages before we called it a day.

We ate a picnic in the car on the way home and got back quite late. A quick bath, supper and stories for the children and they were soon fast asleep. Mark and I weren't far behind them. All that sea air makes you tired!

Lily displaying true British stoicism about the weather

Mark building 'letter castles' for Tom to destroy

The crazy people returning from the sea!