War time bomb explodes

On our penultimate morning our daughter prepared a picnic and we set off for the beach. There was no space in the car park and it was too hot to wait around with the dog and children so she led the way to a village green to eat the picnic. I asked a passing cyclist for directions to the nearest park and we ended up driving past a parked police car to the far side of the village where there was a superb playground with unusual play equipment. The children enjoyed the picnic and made the most of the park. As we were preparing to leave there was a mighty bang which echoed heavily round the valley.

surf

“Thunder?” I asked.

“Oh that will be the bomb,” my daughter replied casually. That night the safe detonation of an old war time bomb featured in the local news. I had to smile, fancy heading for a village with an unexploded bomb for a picnic with 3 under 4's. The report explained this was the site of a war time air force base which had been heavily bombed for weeks so there could be more bombs still undetected in this sleepy village.

sandy beaches

The beach car park was still full but people were leaving when we returned and we managed to park. The grandchildren waited patiently while we blew up our small boat and then we trekked down the beach lugging boat, dog and trying to keep an eye on two grandchildren clad in wetsuits and life jackets as they wandered in different directions at varying speeds.

The boat was a success as the children hadn’t been in one before although used to the beach. Paul and I took turns in floating the boat before the waves, giving the girls a rough water ride. Lottie wanted to go out in the boat but was kept away from the action. Rubber boat and sharp claws don’t go well together.