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Where did you holiday when you were little? If you were anything like me your holidays involved rock and sandy beaches, not hummus and sailing like my girls. I have fond memories of caravans and chalets; long car journeys and ferries; rain and freezing cold beach days huddles behind a wind break on an Atlantic Coast beach.
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For me the holiday I remember the most isn’t a one off holiday, it is a combination of trips. My Grandparents had a house in Abergele, North Wales where they eventually moved, so we spent many many weekends and holidays down there over a number of years and months.
I remember the amusement arcade, that is just the same now as it was back then (save for the chain smoking takes place outside) with its bingo tables and slot machines.
I remember the two pence machines where the money had to tip over the edge, the ones you played until you didn’t have any coins left in your hands.
I remember the ten pence machines which we weren’t allowed to play as we would lose too much money.
I remember the small funfair with a huge bumpy slide where you sat on mats to go down. I remember always wanting to go on again.
I remember my Dad and my Grandad skimming stones in the sea and us kids running in and out of the freezing cold sea but laughing.
I remember cousins and aunties and uncles all crowding round the one table for tea and working out who was going to sleep where.
I remember card games like Gin Rummy, Queenie, Seven of Diamonds and betting with matches or pennies from the penny jar.
I remember the beach huts that were no longer on the beach but the stories about the fact that my Dad used to make money working on them when he was a kid.
I remember the cafe on the beach and the caravan park at the side of the beach where we never needed to stay because we had Gran and Grandads.
I remember smiling and eating chips and staying up late.
I remember thinking this was what holidays were about.
What do you remember?
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Happy memories! X
Happy Memories.
Oh I love this post Karen! So sweet, I used to love going away with my Grandparents. I think you are giving your girls the most amazing experiences, they will have so many happy memories with your holidays and kids are just as happy on a beach in North Wales eating chips as they are going abroad. The best bit about holidays is just being with family xx
I had quite a few holidays on the north Welsh coast growing up – donkeys and sandstorms plus paddling whatever the weather. And those helper skelter slides with the scratchy mats… I always wanted to go down again too 🙂
This is great! You know my holidays are still like that though! It’s not a holiday if you’re not eating a sandy cheese sandwich on the beach! These photos look a lot like some of my old family hols too, we used to go to Abersoch most years, and had some brill family holidays in Devon and Cornwall too. xx
What a lovely trip down memory lane. My first family holiday was to Jersey when I was three and the following year we went to Ibiza. I also remember a disastrous week in Pontins. After that we had less holidays and more days out on a Sunday and Bank Holidays in Alton Towers. All happy memories though, full of laughter and smiles. Thanks for the memories xx