A Childhood Memory

We always took sandwiches, usually fish paste or jam, and homemade lemonade. Adults had a flask of tea. The steam train journey was always exciting. We usually walked to the railway station, about ½ mile, but it seemed a long way.

When we reached the seaside, usually Southend, we always stood and took deep breaths outside the station. I can still remember the salty smell and clean air. As we got nearer the sea the smell of fish and chips made us all feel hungry. If Mum and Dad were "flush" they used to buy a bag of chips and a bag of cracklings, which we all shared.

Our day was spent on the beach. It was a thrill to jump the waves and make castles with moats that went down to the sea. There were usually Punch and Judy shows and donkeys on the beach. I also remember a man in a peaked cap that used to come up and down the beach collecting payment for the hire of deckchairs. I only remember the sun shining.

The esplanade (now called the front) was usually very wide with steps down to the beach, but it always seemed to me that the sand and sea were very very big. I can still see the sea and sky meeting and thinking to myself heaven is out there somewhere. After what seemed to me a most exciting day we caught the train home. I had had a lovely holiday.