2nd June
Our 26th Wedding anniversary and this year we are spending it in Bournemouth. I know that it isn’t quite the same as last year when we had a cruise and spent the day in Cannes, but actually I enjoyed it just as much. For one thing the weather was just as nice. We headed off to Sandbanks where I had booked a kayaking session for Violet Elizabeth. I was not convinced that she would manage it with a broken thumb, but as I had already paid for it she said she would give it a go. She did very well and just managed to avoid being taken out to sea in the wake of the Condor ferry going to the Channel Islands. We stayed at a lovely B&B which was 10 minutes from the beach at Alum Chine, and the sea air has aided my recovery tremendously.
3rd June
Visited Brownsea Island today and finally managed to see a red squirrel! Spencer and Violet- Elizabeth managed to trek all round the island, but I found a space in the tea room that suited me very nicely. Only thing that went wrong today was that the restaurant that Spencer had earmarked for dinner was fully booked when we arrived at 7pm. I had told him to make a reservation, but he said that nowhere is booked up mid week. Instead we went to a fish and chip shop, which was very nice all things considering. They very obligingly offered me a plate when they saw that I was struggling with the paper wrapping.
4th June
Decided to have a relaxing day on the beach, if that is not a contradiction in terms. Nothing is relaxing as far as Spencer is concerned. The day is planned with military precision and everything is taken to the beach whether we will need it or not. It was nearly lunchtime before he had finally put sufficient sun cream on, and then he needed to wash his hands before eating his 6” subway which I had thoughtfully purchased earlier. I pointed to the large expanse of ocean in front of us thinking that would be good enough, but of course there was no soap. Meanwhile Violet-Elizabeth was body boarding in her newly purchased wet suit, and I settled down to read a novel that my friend Sheila had recommended. Next thing I knew the tide was lapping round my feet. Spencer was nowhere to be seen, Violet-Elizabeth was still body boarding and I was left with the task of moving a small military encampment up the beach. Oh well! No such thing as a relaxing day.