On the beach.

We have had a few walks on the beach over the past fortnight in various weathers. At the start of last week the council had been busy scraping the sand away from the promenade. It is a thankless task, constantly needing to be repeated.

On Sunday our elder daughter was home from London and eager to walk by the sea. The weather was wild, the surf booming, the sea coming right up to the promenade, a strong wind whipping spray and foam into the air. It was very exhilerating but we didn't walk far. We were well wrapped up but even so when we returned home scarves, hats and trousers had to be draped over the creel to dry. Monday brought a change of weather, warm and still and it was a pleasure to be out. Many other people obviously felt the same and were out strolling on the front. Children were having a lovely time at the shoreline dodging the waves.

The morning's news had been of a landslip, and, sure enough, as we walked in the direction of town we came to the area where the hillside had slipped, knocking half a dozen beach huts out of line, completely demolishing one of them.

The slip isn't caused by coastal erosion from the sea but due to the excessive rainfall that we have been experiencing this year. There are miles of beach huts all along the coast line with steep scrub land at their back. Quite a concern for the beach hut owners.