Some places have the pull of an invisible magnet.
Here on the windswept Norfolk coast, the sand dunes are topped with marram grass. Today, I've got four-year-old Cassie with me. When she reaches to pick some of the grass, I say, 'No, sweetie, leave it.'
'Why, Granny?'
'The grass growing on top stops the sand from blowing away. And birds and insects live in it.' I imagine. I'm a bit hazy on that.
Tom told me about marram grass the first time we came to this fishing village on holiday. That was before we had the kids.
Then, once we had Stevie and Ange, we visited as a family, the memories enriched and added to.
We'd come every summer and meet the same inhabitants, like Mrs Jellicoe, who still runs the fish and chip shop, and Morgan, who showed the kids the catch in his lobster pots (instrumental in Ange becoming vegetarian, I'd hazard).
**************
Our favourite stop was Belben's Bazaar, a dark curiosity shop full of all things wondrous and, well, bizarre, like pieces of scrimshaw and corn dollies in nautical outfits. The kids loved it.
But most of all they loved the elephant tombola. This was in a glass case in a little kiosk attached to the front window of Belben's. It had a circular track that disappeared into a polystyrene tunnel and emerged on the other side. You put money into a slot on the kiosk and a little elephant (we all called her Nellie) trundled down the track, vanished into the tunnel and emerged on the other side with a stripy box in her pannier. She'd tilt and drop the box down a chute to eagerly waiting hands. The really fun bit was wondering what was inside the box - a tiny mirror? A tin whistle? Cap gun caps? Tom and I discovered Nellie on our first visit, always delighted with whatever the box contained. We weren't the only giggling adults, either. Everyone fell for Nellie's charm.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 13, 2022-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 13, 2022-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
10 OF THE BEST Buys for CHARITY
Look great and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October
How to HAGGLE
Save those £££s by plucking up the courage to negotiate
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Here to help
LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Good to GLOW
Plant your bulbs now for a lovely bright start to spring
Painted VASES
Prettify empty jars and bottles with this quick craft project
Escape to OXFORD
Delve into the city's rich cultural heritage for a wonderful weekend
Sail through menopause WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN!
Middle-aged spread may seem inevitable - but it really doesn't have to be
Woodland wonders
When you go down to the woods, you'll find a whole new world teeming with life
'We should all be dancing'
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox on overcoming adversity, ageing and Strictly Come Dancing