Is it just me, or is there a whiff of change in the air? The sun, when it finally makes it out from behind the clouds, is shining with a more mellow light, and the breezes feel a little cooler than they did this time last week. It seems like summer is coming to an end – although how I’m able to notice this when it never really got started is anyone’s guess! But with the shops filling up with “back to school” supplies, and the evenings starting a little earlier each day, it’s time for a pair of adventurous little woolly monsters to think about heading for home.
But not before they’ve hit the beach one last time! This one looks nice – but where are Paddy and Plunkett?
I suppose these pebbles would provide perfect camouflage for them. Helllooooooo?
Oh, wait… there they are!
They really couldn’t have asked for better weather on their last day – look at that sky, reflected in the perfectly still water behind them!
Unfortunately, at this stage their budget has pretty much completely run out, so the boys will be foraging for lunch.
Is that sea kale? Let’s hope so! Sea kale actually did enjoy a brief spell of culinary popularity in the early 1800s, when a lot of people started growing it in their gardens. Although it’s easy to cultivate, it bruises easily and is best eaten soon after cutting, which is why you’re unlikely to see it in your local supermarket. Still, that doesn’t affect Paddy and Plunkett, who will be tucking in straight away!
And after lunch, perhaps it might be nice to snooze in the sun for a while…
“Hey Paddy, what’s that noise in the background?”
“Ah, don’t worry about it, Plunkett…”
“…It’s just the Dungeness B nuclear reactor.”
“WHAAAAAAAT?!”
Hmmm, how DO they end up in these places? Paddy spent the rest of the day trying to keep Plunkett away from the internet, so he couldn’t read about the many setbacks this power station experienced, both during its construction and ongoing maintenance! By the end of the day, both of them were all tuckered out…
…So they thought it was best to get an early night.
I wonder where they’ll be off to next? And how will you be spending the last days of summer (or winter, for those of you in the southern hemisphere)? Let us know in the comments!
Your beach looks fantastic! Every time I read one of these posts I keep thinking about how much my kids would have loved them when they were little. These stories would make a really cute kid’s book!
Awww, thank you! I’d love to give doing a book another go sometime… It’s just a case of finding the time to do it! 😆
Did they enjoy a trip on the narrow gauge train? Or see Thomas?
Well, after Paddy’s attempt to commandeer a miniature train here -> https://crawcraftsbeasties.com/2016/08/05/white-cliffs-and-teeny-trains/
I reckon “do not admit these monsters” posters were circulated to all small-scale railways in the area! 😆
Oh yes I totally get what you mean about the end of Summer, it’s totally abandoned ship here today as it’s chucking it down this morning! Paddy and Plunkett looked like they had a nice time at the beach, and I’m glad they remembered to take their sunnies on such a lovely day 🙂
Oh boo! That said, I am looking forward to cooler days so I can start wearing all my knits 😀 Cheers for stopping by… And I’m sure Paddy and Plunkett will be off adventuring again soon!
Oh yes that’s the good bit about the seasons changing, out come the knits again 🙂
Ahhh, there’s nothing like the scenic beauty of a nuclear reactor! School trips used to take us kiddies to a local nuclear facility…a facility that is now shut down due to the numerous leaks they found it had. Ooh, and I love the color of those pebbles!
I plan to spend a good portion of the rest of my summer sending telepathic messages to my very green tomatoes, “Ripen, Ripen, Ripen.” Hasn’t worked yet, but you never know.
Nice! Did any of your classmates start sprouting extra toes as a result of these field trips? I KNEW going to school was a bad idea! Good luck with those tomatoes… But you can still make things with green ones, right?
I’m not sure about the toes. However, Portland is a pretty small city and yet I’ve never heard from or seen those kids ever again. Oh my, I could be the lone survivor!!
And THAT must mean you have superpowers! 😀
I’m still waiting to see what they are.
Sea kale and nuclear reactors! Those boys sure find all the interesting places! I’ve never heard of sea kale before. Neat!
They sure do! I reckon they’ll be glad to get home and have a proper meal, though! 😆
They seemed overdresses for the beach. Did they wear sunscreen? Lol
You could play where’s Paddy? Lol
Good idea! 😀 And they’d better have put on sunscreen that morning, or they’re grounded!
Haha… I bet they grabbing the sunscreen now and looking innocent
Can’t believe that Summer is already drawing to a close. Our favourite garden centre always unveils its Christmas display on the August bank holiday weekend, so I guess you really should be getting ready for the festive season!
I know! One of Dublin’s biggest department stores has already opened their Christmas shop… This year has really gone terrifyingly quickly! Time to get some Santa Beasties started, I suppose… 😆