Freedom Morning, echoed by Freedom Morning … both boys’ chortling together …
Claude Clark painted 1941
(1915 - 2001)
… wonderful
the day had dawned … the house awakened to scampering feet … two boys downstairs
laying out breakfast …
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| Anonymous boys |
… chattering away to themselves about the day ahead … all had been arranged, their Dad was home – the family were off to the seaside …
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| Mining Landscape by Lamorna Birch (1869 - 1955) |
Time to get away from the grey, grubby mining town their life revolved around … a bus ride to the beach … out of the dirt and smoke filled air …
Picnic
packed … their favourite sandwiches, extra tomatoes, cucumber, hard boiled
eggs, crisps, apples, jammy dodger biscuits, some sweets … a thermos of coffee,
a few soft drinks … other things could be bought near the beach.
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| Perranporth Beach from the west |
Off they
went to the bus stop … the double decker duly arrived … the boys rushed up the
stairs to see if the front seats were free … shouts of ‘come on Mum, come on Dad’ …
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| Harold Harvey (1874 - 1941) 'Study for the Top of the Bus' |
... down to the rocky coast – they could only just see … but then the sea spread out to the sky above … shimmering in the sunlight …
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| Seagulls wheeling free ... |
The boys
built their castle-fort – only to watch the tide roll in and breach the walls …
inexorably they tried to patch it up and keep the invading waters out … like King Cnut (c 980 - 1085 AD) to no avail …
 |
| Depiction of boys building sand castles |
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| Waves there for the 'sandy wash off' |
Freedom Morning Day ‘finito’ … but what a magnificent experience they’d all had … sand, sea, time to read, time for fun … the general exhausted agreement was – that they needed to do this again soon.
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| Very early morning in Namibia! |
Freedom Morning – a success to be remembered …
Hilary
Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
56 comments:
And a wonderful telling of that wonderful day.
Hari Om
Fresh air, frolics, seafoam and memories formed... what's not to love about such freedom?! YAM xx
Hi Hilary! What a wonderful story of freedom from the POV of little boys who needed a good dose of fresh air. Long live happy stories such as this!
Beach picnics and castle building in the sand are often amongst the happiest childhood memories for all adults. But I imagine British children didn't get to the beach as often as children in hotter countries and so they treasured the memories even more.
Having dad there would have been even more fun.
Wonderful story that made me smile. Sounds like they had such fun.
Hi,
the freedom of letting go. Burdens released as the excitement of a day spent in joy washes away the weary everyday routine
Very nicely done.
Shalom aleichem
I remember those kinds of days at Hunstanton in the 1950s, though Dad, being a farmworker was never with us.
Loved your story. I could really see the boys' adventurous day.
I'm packing my bag now - let's head to the beach. Bliss is the perfect word for such a day and a lovely story. Thanks for this on a Wednesday. I can smell the salt air and hear the squawk of seagulls.
What a simple and sweet story with a big impact. It's amazing how difficult it is for people to have a nice day like this. Thank you for sharing it with us.
@ EC – thank you … just a gentle telling of times a few decades ago …
@ Yam – many thanks – exactly … so pleased you enjoyed the ‘family day out by the seaside’ …
@ Denise – just a little scenario many of us will have experienced … especially the bumpy bus ride to the beach …
@ Hels – thank you – nothing like a family day out … I’m sure many families didn’t have the opportunity for days out like this … and as you mention especially having Dad there to join in.
@ Mason – it brought back happy memories of times gone by – so thank you …
@ Pat – the freedom of just being able to relax and be themselves for a short time … as you mention – it’d wash away, for a day, the weary everyday life of times gone by …
@ John – oh I remember Hunstanton well – though only visiting late in life … so can imagine your days on that beach … in the 1950s – the era I was implying … but sad to read your father couldn’t be with you …
@ Natalie – thank you … it was a gentle telling of a day at the beach …
@ Joanne – that’s great … it’s chilly at the moment though! So pleased you could see yourself there/here … I too can smell the Cornish air!
@ Toi – thanks Toi – today … it’s definitely not an easy opportunity for so many … but here it could be told … especially with the hardworking Dad from a factory/mining working environment … just happy you enjoyed it …
Great to see you all – here to appreciate the Freedom Mornings we’re all lucky to have experienced with our families. Stay safe - Hilary
Warmth, love, family, memories! Loved it!
What a glorious day, Hilary. WE never went anywhere when I was a child. It didn't bother me, thought it was normal. These kids probably had a wonderful time.
In many societies, story-tellers are highly esteemed and oral traditions are the mechanism of cultural succession of ancient people. In any other context, Hilary, other than the fast-paced, hi-tech world we live in now, you would be the head story-teller of your village. It is quite wonderful the way you can bring it all to life. We can only imagine the glorious nature of a day at the beach for people who toiled in the appalling condition of grimy industrial cities, but I suspect that your words evoke feelings of joy in all of us. Our beaches may not have been actual beaches, but we all have those special places that meant so much. As always, to read your post brings me a great deal of pleasure. Hugs from Ontario. David
Beautiful Hilary. Soaked in the sea. Dried in the sun. Feeling rejuvenated.
I feel the exuberance of those boys, their joy bubbly and uplifting. A wonderful tale.
Fantastic story and it makes me so envious, how I would love a day trip out like that. !4 months of being stuck in four walls and one garden is getting a little monotonous, though no time thankfully to get bored.
Keep well, cheers Diane
Glorious. Such a warm and bright story.
Great fun!
This was wonderful to read.
Sounds like a fun day.
Hi Hilary
I'd like to join that family on the beach. So much fun. Love how you captured the excitement.
Nancy
This is a wonderful story, exactly the kind of getaway we all need from time to time. Your descriptions painted a beautiful portrait in my mind.
Who doesn't look forward to such a lovely freedom morning! Felt so untethered reading this.
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com
Lovely descriptions of the day. Well done
Great imagery - I could see that beach and feel the boys' excitement. Cornwall is so beautiful! Well done.
@ Jemi – thank you … those early days down in Cornwall bring back happy memories …
@ Jacqui – thank you … in fact we never went to the seaside from home – it was only when we were in Cornwall … and yes – people in Cornwall often hadn’t ever left the county … home and its surrounds can be wonderful for many of us …
@ David – I really thank you … amazing comment. I enjoy bringing different eras to life … but all these resources are now available … perhaps especially living here in ‘little old Britain’ … with so much history and culture …
We had some glorious days in Cornwall when we went to various beaches, depending on the weather/wind … so I’m delighted you can feel so much pleasure of yore from my little story …
@ Sanhita – thank you so much – yes Dad’s, with his boys, fun dunk in the sea … dried by the sun … and a family very satisfied with their day …
@ Olga – thank you … boys do so much enjoying their times together … you gave them extra life with your comment … so pleased you enjoyed it …
@ Diane – it’s devastating at the moment isn’t it … living at the seaside … and being in the middle of a town and away from most of urbanity … I’ve just had to mentally adjust, while going about a relatively normal life – yes no meeting others, but seeing people out and about.
I imagine with your garden and beautiful property to look after things haven’t been that terrible – though I know the internet isn’t that good in provincial France. Like you – I’m so glad I haven’t felt bored …
@ Sandra – thanks so much … glorious = yes …
@ Anabel – thank you …
@ Dan – so pleased you enjoyed it …
@ Liz – yes it would have been fun, a real treat …
@ Nancy – I’d like to be there too now! Delighted you enjoyed the tale …
@ Laura – yes I’m sure many families with small children, or even without, are in dire need of days out like this … I’m glad the boys’ excitement came through …
@ Sonia – delighted you could feel the freedom – untethered: a great word … thank you …
@ Edix – thank you …
@ Nila – Cornwall is beautiful – I’m lucky to have spent so much time down there … and I enjoyed writing this up …
Thanks so much to you all – as many of you have expressed … we’re all feeling so restricted at the moment … but just like family back in the early 1950s – at least perhaps for us here in the UK – we were restrained as families adjusted to life after the War … I know today we’re all longing to be free of these ‘horror times’ … stay safe - Hilary
Beautifully described Hilary. It made me think of the fun we had on family days out to Camber Sands!
Wonderful evocation of childhood innocence and adventure. A pleasure to read.
Children know the true meaning of Freedom, don't they! Wish we could hold on to those feeling through adulthood. :)
There's nothing like the delicious exhaustion of a day of fun.
@ Keith - thank you ... I've never been to Camber Sands - one day I must rectify that ... but we did come down to Cooden for a couple of years, when my father's mother moved down near there ... and it's the only place I can remember building a sandcastle!
@ Nick - thank you ... just a simple post - I can't write about the horrors of life ...
@ Yolanda - yes children know the meaning of freedom ... yet of course don't realise what they've got - and yes wouldn't it be great if we could hang on to those freedoms ...
@ Deborah - thank you - I agree ... a day out in the sun and wind is exhausting ...
Lovely to hear from you ... thank you so much for being here - all the best - Hilary
A truly blissful child-like tale of a free day at the beach. Well done, Hilary.
This is such a beautiful account of that day. It sounds special. :-)
Greetings from London.
@ Christopher - many thanks ... I'm glad the tale came across like this ... we need some hope etc ...
@ ACIL - I'm sure for many families there have been days like this ... but I'm glad the little story came across as a special time ...
Thanks to both of you ... so pleased you enjoyed the read - all the best - Hilary
It must really have been great fun time. The picnic, the double-decker bus ride! Wow!
Love the pictures you picked out. They add a warmth to your wonderful story.
Hugs
Collecting experiences like that is the best thing in life. I picked up the excitement and beauty of the beach. Feel like going there now. Loved it!
A perfect picture of families being together, embraced by nature!
The best kind of day. Even better when dad plays along as well. :)
This brought back some wonderful memories of my own seaside adventures. Hopefully it won't be long before we can all enjoy this kind of carefree holiday again.
Such a lovely post, Hilary! Took my breath away. And for a moment I could almost feel the sea spray, the sand between my toes.
A post, full of positive strokes to the mind, refreshes the reader. Sand, water, wind, kids and all are enthusing the readers.
The Freedom of a day at the beach! Beautiful. Love how happy this story is.
J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
Hope your day is as glorious as your story, Hils:)
Hi Hilary! Very well written. You just described my perfect day at the beach. Although I must confess, I'm not 100% sure what jammy dodger biscuits are but if they're what I think they are: delicious!
Elsie
My daughter has to speak on "Experiences at the beach" in her class today. What a coincidence! :) ....Beautiful post and i am actually feeling positive after reading this:)
https://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com/2021/04/y-for-yule-ball.html
@ Pradeep – just going to the beach was fun … but we never went via bus … the idea is just more fun to think about …
@ Sandra – thank you … the pictures let us ride along with my story …
@ Marja – I agree, and it was delightful to write up – thinking about the journey …
@ Steph – yes … as it should be – without the hustle and bustle of others around …
@ Rosey – exactly … a family day out – excitement and happy times for all …
@ Anstice – oh that’s lovely to read – I’m so pleased I brought those memories back for you. I too sincerely hope we can have freedom from the pandemic and life will be carefree once again …
@ Diedre – so pleased you felt this way … and could feel their holiday happiness …
@ Ruda – many thanks … just delighted to see you here and to see you’re happy with the post …
@ JLenni – so pleased it came across as a happy story.
@ Sandra – thank you for both your comments …
@ Elsie – so pleased and you could relate so easily … fun times. I had to look up ‘jammy dodgers’ – as I’d never found out anything about them – I might write more … it’s a biscuit with a cream and jam filling … with the top cover that has a ‘hole’ in it … showing the jam. So yes delicious!
@ Jayashree – how extraordinary … and what fun if my post gave your daughter some ideas for her project in class today – good luck to her.
Thanks so much to you all – I’m so pleased this story-line for #Write Edit Publish has given you all happy thoughts – all the best - Hilary
What a wonderful way to describe a wonderful day!
Thanks Marcy - it brought back early memories ... though we never went by bus to the beach ... but those days on the beach en famille are special. Great to see you here - thank you - Hilary
A very nice story. I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Charlotte - good to see you - cheers Hilary
What a lovely take on the prompt. I can just imagine the dad and boys on the beach, escaping to freedom!
Thanks Jemima - sorry just realised you'd commented on the WEP storyline ... those were the days ... children without worries! Cheers Hilary
What a lovely, sweet story. Thank you.
Thanks Rebecca - appreciate the comment ... typical soft childhood day out ... cheers Hilary
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