6/4

Day Nine

Wow. Day Nine?! Has it really only been nine days? It seems like more than a month. I guess I just love it here so much.

After my usual deliciously over-buttery breakfast, we went to the oh-so magnificent Paignton Beach! This beach is one of the main places I like to visit when in England. I LOVE this beach (J'aime aller à la plage!!!*); I love any beach, really, but this one is truly special to me. I've experienced a lot here, and many memories were created with my family and friends. It's really nice and warm, and the waves are so cool, and the atmosphere is just so positively wonderful. When we got there, we walked first to a shop to get some sunscreen, because my legs are still burnt from that tanning session in my garden. Don't wanna burn them any worse, now do I? Then, we headed into the mini-casino on the Pier. That place... That place is so wonderful. Wonderful--probably--in a bad way but still wonderful, regardless. I always play the Tipping Point machines. God, I can get really addicted to those!!! But they are such a joy to play in the end. After probably an hour doing that, we walked to the tip of the Pier, but not before eyeing the Deal or No Deal game. We have been watching it on the telly, so we were tempted... and so we went for it! And guess what? We won 100 tickets, with 200 being the most you could win. DEAL, indeed!

Satisfied with our winnings, we walked back to buy some prawns with lemon juice drizzled all over them. It's such a refreshing snack on a hot day like today, so we get it every time we come here (keep in mind, that's only once a year. SO we do have a good time when we get the chance). After much walking around and debating about what to get for lunch, we found a little restaurant that had gluten-free fish-n-chips and vinegar! What a lucky break I have been having with this! Even though this find was so amazing, I only got chips. I really wasn't starving, and I have been eating way too much in general. When I get back home, it's going to be strict diet diet diet!!! (I say that now, but watch me gain another ten pounds when I get back...)

After our late lunch, we went on the beach. The tide was in, and the water was FREEZING. Getting used to the chilly water took quite a while for me. But I walked along and got a little splashed here and there, and I enjoyed it in the end. We went home after about an hour on the water. My, that was such a nice day. And to top it all off, for supper we had Toad in the Hole, which is-- in my case, gluten-free--sausage surrounded by batter. It was wonderful. My, my, my... what a wonderful day! Zipidy-doo-dah!

Wonderful days like this don't happen very often to most people. If you have one of these days, remember how good it was. How it made you feel. Who you were with. What made it so special. Hold on to these feelings and memories, for you never know when you're going to need to remember them.

*French: "I like to go to the beach!!!"