The joy of the beach in winter

By Alexia Saleem

When I watch my children playing, I feel myself transported to a place that is magical and free. A place where there are no rules and no shoulds and shouldn’ts. A place where you can just be yourself and in the present moment. Alive. Uninhibited. Spontaneous. A place I often wonder why we adults don’t visit more regularly.

I was reminded of this only just last week when we took ourselves to Larnaca for our daily walk. My daughter had asked to go to the seaside and I thought, why not? It’s not like we had anything else to do. It was also our day for looking after my niece, so rather than have three children under seven cooped up at home and building fortresses out of our furniture, the beach sounded like the better plan.

When we arrived in Larnaca, after screaming in delight from the backseat at the sight of all the flamingos and parked airplanes, I envisioned an hour of running around in the fresh sea air and then heading home to watch a movie before pick-up.

Turns out the kids had other plans. I should have known. I’ve been a parent long enough and would have done the same in their shoes.

By the time I’d locked the car, they’d raced on ahead with their buckets and spades like excited puppies let off the leash.

When I finally caught up with them, the girls had pulled their trousers up over their knees and were bounding in and out of the sea, squealing in delight as the waves crashed on their bare legs. Although both of them tried to entice my son to follow their lead, he ignored them, happy to play imaginary games in the sand and sing to himself.

As I watched them playing, I was reminded of my own childhood summers spent in Northern Ireland playing on the beach with my cousins. What happy, carefree memories I have of those days. I found myself hoping my children would have similar ones.

For 45 minutes the three of them built sandcastles and ran in and out of the water tirelessly, including my son who eventually joined in.

It was the perfect February afternoon: sunny and blustery. The beach was deserted, bar one or two winter bathers, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves.

The children, being children, ended up stripping down to their underwear and then after those got wet, whipped them off too.

My sister-in-law asked me if I had a towel when I video called home for her to see them playing in the sea. Yes of course I did, I little white lied, crossing my fingers and toes as I did, praying my niece didn’t come down with a cold.

Although the kids could have played on, I knew once the clothes had come off we’d have to head back sooner rather than later. I also knew this would be when the complaints were likely to start. Namely: I’m cold and my feet are sandy.

I was right on both counts and promptly informed them that is what happens when you go to the beach, and no I did not have water with which to wash their dirty feet. Thank goodness they weren’t cold for long as I put their sweatshirts back on and popped them in the car which was lovely and toasty having been parked in the sun.

I then rang home and asked my husband to please put the hot water on as I was bringing back three dirty beach babes who were in need of a hot bath and a change of clothes.

Although I’d forgotten a towel, I hadn’t forgotten snacks. Apples, chocolate biscuits and rice cakes, which the three of them hungrily devoured lickety-split.

They spent the trip home discussing what movie they wanted to watch after their bath: The Jungle Book in Greek or Lady and The Tramp in English.

My niece wanted to know why adults can’t be naked on the beach. I said it wasn’t allowed. She asked why there was one rule for kids and another for adults. I didn’t have a good answer and told her I’d look it up.

Tired and elated the three of them played mermaids in the bath, while I rinsed their buckets and spades and put on the laundry. I told myself if my niece was fed, bathed and her clothes washed, that would definitely score me some brownie points.

Once out of the bath the three of them put on their pyjamas and proceeded to play tag. So much for exhausting themselves at the beach.

By the time I got them in front of the TV screen I was ready for a much-earned pot of tea and some warm berry crumble which I’d saved for this moment.