The day had started as it was meant to continue

The early morning cloud had faded within hours

And by noon the sky was sunny and mostly clear

We arrived on the beach at about twelve thirty

And set ourselves up by the old rusty winch

Nearby in the castle grounds an outdoor cinema was being set up

The film that was to be shown was Ryan’s Daughter

I had seen the film and did not intend to attend the screening

But I watched the build up with a certain interest

Although the sea was calm there was enough of a breeze

To host the sport of two spectacular kite surfers

Who occasionally lost their colourful boards before recovering

During the course of the afternoon we frequently swam

And although it was July the water was surprisingly brittle

But for the most part we relaxed on our well worn towels

In the distance the church clock announced the hour

It was four o’clock and the beach was beginning to thin

Leaving only the dedicated sunbathers to keep it company

My wife and I slowly climbed the pebbled sea terraces

Slipping occasionally as we made our way towards the nearby path

We were both looking forward to an iced drink after we had showered