summertime!

So, every summer we take our Sunday School for a day out on the beach at Barry Island, and we've never been rained off yet.

We had an absolutely glorious day yesterday. After two days of nonstop rain, and one of the wettest summers on record, the forecast for yesterday was 'bright and breezy'. What we got was blue sky and sun with barely any wind at all, and it was a lot hotter than forecast, too. Clear enough that we could see right across the Channel to north Somerset on the other side. I was plastered in suncream and still managed to burn a bit!

This is my cousin Stephen, but ignore him and focus on how pretty the beach looks.


We took about two dozen kids, aged between three and eighteen, and they were all were astonishingly good, apart from one learning disabled six-year-old who insisted on throwing sand all day. No one wandered off, no one threw any tantrums, they all took part in all the games that were organised for them. Even I ended up having to take part in the games! I usually just cheerlead from the sidelines, but one little girl from my class asked me to be her big person, so I kind of had to run. Also spent a large amount of time playing bat-and-ball with another little bunch. We did sand modelling, took the kids in the sea - and I'm very impressed at how clean Barry Island is these days, both sand and sea were immaculate. We also had a first class view of some kind of junior lifesavers tournament that was going on a bit further down the beach; some of them in turn came to watch our races!

Ended the day with a ride in the funfair for each of the kids, and then came home with about half the beach in my hair, clothes and bags. I've had Small sleeping over for the weekend, so we were competing to see who could get in the shower first. She won.

And this morning? Absolutely pouring down again. So - timing is everything!

summertime!

So, every summer we take our Sunday School for a day out on the beach at Barry Island, and we've never been rained off yet.

We had an absolutely glorious day yesterday. After two days of nonstop rain, and one of the wettest summers on record, the forecast for yesterday was 'bright and breezy'. What we got was blue sky and sun with barely any wind at all, and it was a lot hotter than forecast, too. Clear enough that we could see right across the Channel to north Somerset on the other side. I was plastered in suncream and still managed to burn a bit!

This is my cousin Stephen, but ignore him and focus on how pretty the beach looks.


We took about two dozen kids, aged between three and eighteen, and they were all were astonishingly good, apart from one learning disabled six-year-old who insisted on throwing sand all day. No one wandered off, no one threw any tantrums, they all took part in all the games that were organised for them. Even I ended up having to take part in the games! I usually just cheerlead from the sidelines, but one little girl from my class asked me to be her big person, so I kind of had to run. Also spent a large amount of time playing bat-and-ball with another little bunch. We did sand modelling, took the kids in the sea - and I'm very impressed at how clean Barry Island is these days, both sand and sea were immaculate. We also had a first class view of some kind of junior lifesavers tournament that was going on a bit further down the beach; some of them in turn came to watch our races!

Ended the day with a ride in the funfair for each of the kids, and then came home with about half the beach in my hair, clothes and bags. I've had Small sleeping over for the weekend, so we were competing to see who could get in the shower first. She won.

And this morning? Absolutely pouring down again. So - timing is everything!