Fan-bloomin-tastic!

Back from camping. The site we intended to go to was full. So we went further along the coast a bit and camped at a fantastic site in West Wittering. We got a pitch with lots of shade (phew). The site was CLEAN - so clean, great toilets/showers, clean level pitches and friendly people. There was a big play area (not slides and stuff) but just space for footie, frisbees and kites, safe space, the kidlets could run free and they did. There were farm animals for petting - goats and their kid, big fat piggies, wonkies, ponies and Dexter Cattle (I love them).

So where do you go on a very hot sunny Saturday with 3 kidlets? Here http://www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk/ all I can say is "Wow!" I saw fish in the sea, swimming around my legs - never seen that before in the UK. The sea was 3/4 of a mile away when we hit the sand (soft silky sand - not bloomin great pebbles) we walked down to it through the tidal puddles, fossiling as we went (found a few as well). The water was clear and warm......yes warm. We spent most of the afternoon swimming by the time we left the sea was about 15ft from our base up near the top of the beach. The kids and Mike made sand sculptures - including a very impressive beach crocodile. It was a bonza day and although we were sticky, sandy and hot the walk back to the site went quickly. We all indulged in refreshing showers and a huge hot chicken salad tea - yummy.

As we left the beach - all sorts of rescue crews - incl helicopters arrived. We later discovered a little girl had gone missing - it was busy and the current was deceptively strong. She was found still on her lilo at Hayling Island - she was alive. I don't like kids and inflatables on a beach - it's so dangerous. If J plays with something like that one of us is always with him and holding on to it so it doesn't drift. This kind of thing brings home the dangers found on the beach.

A nice early start Sunday - I love the quiet mornings camping when everyone else is asleep. We stayed on site and the kids played whilst we did a gradual pack - a large picnic lunch and then home. You didn't have to leave your pitch until 6.00pm. It was nice (as it was so hot) to do the pack up at your leisure and the kids enjoyed the extra time to rampage.

Not much knitting took place. I finished a sock and a wristwarmer and that was about it. Still it really was a great weekend. We fully intend to go back there soon - the beach and the site.

The cat and dog were pleased to see us and M did the unpack and started the laundry as he knows how I flag in the heat. Yesterday was spent recovering and chillin, today well who knows....