On the beach in Bude
On the beach in Bude

Family day to ourselves in Bude but Debbie gets lost on the beach and Diana refuses to take her coat off and then struggles with this and the sand that Della is getting everywhere but it all end up fine as bank base rates reduce slightly

Awake early again after another sound night’s sleep. The hotel let us down again over our morning drinks and this time were not going to deliver them at all until reminded. Everyone washed and dressed afterwards and down to breakfast at 8.45am, which meant that we missed the two waves of geriatric ‘coachies.’ No repeat of the scalding incident of yesterday as we were better organised and positioned to avoid it. Out with due paraphernalia to the beach and the sun shone nicely. We had settled and were enjoying things (though Diana insisted on being the only sunbather to persist in wearing a coat) until the children failed to return from the sea shore and we had to get the lifeguard service to announce their names over the public address system. It seems that Daniel had left Debbie to paddle and had wandered off into the sea to swim. Being lost, she had failed to find anyone. Diana, already frantic with Daniella over sand in her eyes and bottom, was totally upset and struggled off to the hotel to recover.

Eventually we all reunited, ate burgers and chips for lunch and had a long afternoon on the beach. Della seems to enjoy the sand, although she eats a fair quantity of it. After ice cream and drink breaks, the tide comes in and dislodges us from the beach and we pack up and start to come home. We let Debbie have goes on the pedal go-cart and “bouncy thing” and Daniel on the trampoline and then come back to the hotel. Time for a quick swim for the children in the swimming pool and also for me to watch the televised cricket. The two teams are batting well and the match seems to be heading for a draw. The children go down to high tea and find even less other children staying today. Debbie finds a new friend, however, and will play with her this week. The children to their room and we go down to enjoy our dinner. More veteran coachies at dinner and this lot seem to be Irish. After, we walk around Bude and find several gift shops open, but the fare seems to be rather cheap and nasty to me. Back to the hotel worn out at the end of a strenuous day and my legs seem to have taken a beating. News today of four clearing banks having reduced base rates by ½ % and more of President Reagan’s ‘miraculous’ recovery from his colon operation – we shall see.