Well, it would be rude not to avail oneself of just one or two cheeky poses in a giant deckchair ……..
……. wouldn’t it?
My apologies for the look of a slightly weary nature …….. the Black Hole, Master Blaster, Space Bowl and Blue Comet, not to mention the wave machine and rapids of Waterworld rather took it out of me this morning and that was just going with Nigel.
……. and then I’ve promised to do it all over again this afternoon with Iris and Bertie, aghhhhhhhh, what am I like?
Darrell was very taken by the Gabion Gallery at the top end of Minehead’s seafront, in particular all the padlocks that have been left on the stone filled gabion baskets, each, with it’s own story and memories to tell.
Darrell said that the thought of locking and leaving something that was a bit of you, by the sea, was almost too impossibly romantic, but there again he does have a “thing” about padlocks. Unfortunately, on this occassion he didn’t have a padlock to leave, but he said that from now on, whenever we are away, he’ll make sure he has one in his case, just in case. What is he like?
We had hoped to leave our own padlock on Brooklyn Bridge when we were in New York a few years ago, until we learned that it was no longer allowed due to the ever increasing weight. People do leave padlocks on the new(ish) bridge in Evesham, but Darrell said, though he dearly loves our adopted town, he wasn’t/isn’t feeling the romance quite so deeply …….
While we have been out and about embracing all of Minehead’s pleasures ……
….. we couldn’t help but notice all the wonderful “Metal Heads” that are scattered throughout the town……..
……. outside shops, churches, the market, hotels etc.
Dare we say we even thought that the Metal Ahead (above) bears a passing resemblance to our beloved cereal commenter, Mr D, in humid but romantic Mexico, when he had hair of course! However the jacket is nigh on perfect!
There are 130 Metal Heads in all and still, we believe counting. They also have their own advertised trail and map to follow. How brilliant is that?
Sadly, we only got to see just the tip of this wonderful iceberg on our visit, however, should we return, as we are very much liking Minehead, it will definitely be on our itinerary. Happy days!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-53763699
https://www.facebook.com/Minehead-Metal-Heads-106831244465465/
https://www.mineheadbay.co.uk/point-of-interest/minehead-metal-heads-1
With the town centre only a short walk away from the beach, it would have been rude if I didn’t at least avail myself of one or two of Minehead’s finest charity shops ……
…… if Nigel and Darrell didn’t mind holding the fort for a bit and promising to bring them back an award winning flapjack from Flapjackery https://www.flapjackery.co.uk/ as a treat.
The beauty of a charity shop, especially ones in foreign climes is the thrill of finding something you never even knew you wanted/needed until you see it sat sitting on the bric a brac shelf, usually my first point of call.
And Minehead was no different …….
…… if Darrell wasn’t now such a confirmed bachelor after our early experiences with Tallulah back in the days when we worked at the Girls High School ………
…… I’d have been tempted to buy this mug to put away in case of any possible announcement and impending nuptials, Darrell would have made such brilliant wedding planner!
I was also tempted to make a considered purchase on behalf of Darrell for when he next visits Hugh, his best friend and mentor of all things of a Cicely Mary Barker type nature, flower fairies being one of his “big things”, however the shop was asking “tourist” prices and £10 was a little too steep, when compared to what we would expect to pay back in Evesham for a similar piece.
I’ll be honest, no considered, charitable purchases were made on this occassion, but it was just wonderful having a mooch in peace nevertheless.
However, Minehead also has a Poundland (a bit of a surprise and thus extra bonus) and again it would have looked rude not to peruse its shelves while I was there ……..
…….. especially when I spotted that they had a whole shelf of bunny cake stands that I know Darrell had drooled over after seeing them on his beloved Poundland Appreciation Page on Facebook. I know he’d set his heart on one, but all the stores he’d visited had all sold out.
Let’s just say that it got a little emotional when I returned to the beach holding said cake stand aloft accompanied by a bag of luxury flapjacks, which Darrell put down having a bit of sand in his eye.
I did however leave the bunny tealight holders on the shelf, because what the bunnies were actually doing to their eggs looked most dubious if you ask me, it must have been the sea air …… I’ll just leave it there. What am I like?
We have to admit that though Butlins holds much thrall by day, the simple pleasures of Minehead beach have so far outweighed the chance to meet and greet Optimus Prime, P J Masks, Peppa Pig and Mr Tumble ……
….. so much so that we have also become strangers to the bright lights of amusements and the 2p machines …….
…… favouring instead to simply sit back, drink in the view, feel the sand between our toes, building sandcastle fortresses and sending Nigel to get the odd ice cream or two (or three)…..
…… not to mention fighting over trying out the new metal detector we bought Bertie for his birthday.
Alas, no long lost gold doubloons were to be found, only a couple of ring pulls, a 5p and a 2p, but the memories we made are priceless.
As was a very bracing and toe numbing, but still romantic moonlit paddle ………..
……. before we all took it in turns to take Iris to learn the Red Coat Party Dances and enjoy the various Red Coat entertainment in the mahoosive Reds entertainment venue and where Nigel mastered the art of ordering a round of Slush Puppies, nuts and crisps to our table using the Butlins App without even leaving his seat!
Bertie, on the other hand, not a great party dance enthusiastic was happy to embrace the adventure playground with one of us, whoever’s turn it was ……..
Happy, happy, happy, happy days ……
Well, the eagle finally landed in Minehead on Friday afternoon, be it a year later than anticipated and there was certainly no mistaking the Butlins Big Top as we headed to the seafront …….
…. all in very buoyant holiday mood!
However, though the pleasures of Butlins were undoubtedly tempting, once we’d found our chalets and dropped our bags off, it was the beach that beckoned us most …..
…… and as total strangers to Minehead, we have to say that it very quickly captured our hearts, because, although as we said, you can’t miss Butlins, just a little way away, save for one amusement arcade on the front, the town is quite unspoilt.
It didn’t take us long to start chilling ……
…… and burying small children in the sand ……..
……… in time honoured, family seaside tradition.
It really doesn’t get any better than that, especially after a long, hot car journey ………
…… except for perhaps another family tradition ………
……. fish and chips (and the odd curry sauce) alfresco and au naturel on the first night …….
……. before heading back for an evenings entertainment at our Butlins bolthole.
Happy, happy days ………..
