Sunday 10th August 2025

It is easy in either cold wet weather, or hot sunny weather, to sit inside and shelter from the extremes Mother Nature throws at us.

There's stuff on the radio, footy on TV and all the other stuff. But sometimes, you've just got to get out.

And as I promised Jools that when she went swimming in the harbour I would come along and walk the promenade, and Sunday she had planned to mee Sean and Ange down there.

So it was after coffee, we left the house just before nine, down Jubilee Way, parking just behind the Prom.

Jools went to the beach, and from the railings about said hello to our friends.

In port was still the Spanish Galleon, and a cruise ship, which explained the confused American and French tourists wandering around looking for some culture. Or McDonalds.

I walked to the new bridge and back, mainly to botanise the beds along the edge of the beach. Not much of rarity at this time of year, but good for the council to make then nature friendly, and put up boards explaining that there are for nature and wildlife.

I was the only one looking, really though.

By the time I had wandered back, Jools was out of the water and dressed, and looking out for me so we could walk back to the car.

Leaving the beach means talking to everyone you pass, and can take half an hour.

She makes it to the Prom, we sit and wait for Sean and Ange, as it takes them longer as they have to talk and hug everyone.

And then us, so we go our separate ways.

Back home for breakfast of the leftover fruit, all now pretty much mush or getting there, but fine with yogurt and muesli on, and went down well with a fresh brew.

And that was it really. Too warm to go much, we sit on the patio until we get too warm, take shelter in the house and do it again.

We have lunch.

And after, the sun had swung round so much that the seats were in shadow and so much cooler, the afternoon breeze had got up as well.

A mid-afternoon snack of a mug of tea dunked with ginger nuts did the trick, and then there was football: Leicester v Sheffield Wednesday, which ended 2-1 home win, though The Owls played well for a club near extinction and players that had not been paid for months.

Supper was cheese and cracker. And wine.

Before retiring to the patio to watch the 97.5% waning moon rise at ten past nine.