We are just back from a week in our favourite place on earth. You may think I am referring to one of the seven wonders of the world, no, have been to those places (well a few of them) and while they were worth visiting, nothing compares to our little gem in the south-west of England. I am not revealing the name of the town, you find your own place of happiness.
We have been visiting this spot since 1983, our daughter was just three years old then. Strange, the sun seemed to shine everyday, no rain (we are used to rain in these parts) just blue skies and fluffy white pillow shaped clouds.
We my husband and I used to sit on the beach watching our little girl playing in the sand. She had a little red bucket and spade. I remember well she would nag her father to help her make sand castles. They would spend hours on end perfecting Kind Arthur’s Castle with moat included, only to find that tide was due in and wash it all away, we never seemed to have a camera on hand to record their fabulous accomplishments, far too busy creating their masterpiece. I remember our daughter asking me ” why can’t you keep the water away until we are finished Mama?” Children think us parents can do the impossible, I used to say “you can’t keep the tide as bay darling” that would be impossible, we can make it again tomorrow. Those words always seemed to cheer her up! “There is always tomorrow”.
In those days we used to go to Mass, we are catholic you see. On our first visit to mass the priest would welcome all visitors to his parish that week – when I think back he would look at each and every face to see who were the visitors – that was nice but, as mass finished and you were about to leave the priest was waiting at the exit to shake every parishioners and indeed visitors hand, I firmly believe that priest never had to cook a meal as he would invite himself to visitors holiday homes for a meal while they visited HIS parish. We were one of those unfortunate families.
Later on that evening, around 7p.m. the parish priest knocked on our holiday home, we were staying in a seaside cottage he was on time, I had said 7p.m. and he was “bang on the button” as they say. In those days I was quite religious and having a priest visit was very important, how innocent were we. We opened our home to him and he joined us for a meal. I don’t quite remember what I cooked but it seemed to be appreciated.
Looking back now after all these years, I do believe the priest was a lonely man and would accept an invitation anywhere, and if no invitation, would invite himself. Would you blame him really, I don’t! after all, his parish was very small with very few families so he would be living a very lonely life, I am glad we “broke bread together”.
Those holidays in our favourite place is as enjoyable today as was in the eighties when our daughter was a child. I am looking forward to our next visit.
Colette ... 