"A summer without a holiday is like a year without summer"

I recently read that quote in the newspaper advertising a holiday at the beach in a warm climate. I must say that I, like the Brits, feel the need for a summer which northwest England does not generously grant. Though stunningly beautiful here in Cumbria, this summer has been wet and cool for the most part.

I set myself up for a major disappointment when at the end of the summer I booked us at what I was expecting to be a Hilton Head type of experience. All of the travel books said Devon had

a warmer climate, pretty beaches and tropical type plants. For the four day weekend right before school started we drove 7 hours to the warm beach because as you remember we live on the coast already, it's just not real warm. After checking the forecast which read partly sunny 70 degrees (welcome improvement from our 62 degree rainy weather) I packed my bathing suit, shorts, and flip flops. Dennis kept telling me I was going to be disappointed and boy was he right.

We arrived very late Friday night and checked into our '3* Mystery Hotel' Deal. Let

me just say up front it's a 'mystery deal' for a reason. Ugh. The curtains were shredded in places, the bedspread had stains, the walls had water stains and spakle putty, and holes in the sheets. The kicker was the signs everywhere that proclaimed that all valuables should be left at the front desk. (At one point in the weekend Na got this horrible look on his face and gasped, "Oh no, I left my watch in the room." We all smiled knowing the new watch from Grammy only cost 10 pounds and wasn't a high risk item; but he had taken the signs seriously.) It was also overcast and misty. I was just about in tears - where was my tropical beach summer weekend?

That night I lay still in the bed wondering what was I really sleeping on. I was having a talk with myself. Dennis had tried to give me the ole perspective talk but he felt bad for me as he knows that I miss the warmth more than anyone in the family. We had an 'Augusta' summer in

many ways with so many visitors from home - they just weren't able to bring the sunshine in their suitcases.

Saturday we went in search of the beach and though it was too cold for our blood we enjoyed a beautiful walk. The weekend turned out to be a great time - the kids were great

though we weren't 'entertained' in any way. We ate some

good Indian and Mexican food and

enjoyed each other. My family even humored me to drive an hour over to Plymouth to see the 'plaque' in memory of the Mayflower. (pictured left they are pointing to the 'Mayflower 1620 sign") I came away from the weekend glad to have sunny family relations and cloudy weather rather than cloudy family relations and sunny days.

A ridiculous side note is the two extreme pet owners we came

across in Devon while eating our scones with

Devonshire cream and jam. First we saw a cute

Bichon who reminded us of our little "Buddy" only to be repulsed by the owners. They had a dog stroller (see phot0) and throughout the day when we saw them the dog was getting more pampering than the spouse or children. It was sickening. Then as we were leaving we saw another dog owner putting raincoats and booties on his dogs to keep them dry. Please, people these are animals!!

After our beach cliff walk we all worked up a sweat and took off our outer layers. Nathan

convinced himself he wanted to give swimming a try but he changed his mind before he was up to his ankles. So I got my holiday but without scorching sun which is a disappointment to be worked through for a southern girl.

Maybe I would have to amend the quote to read, A summer without warm sunshine is like a year without a holiday. I didn't know I was so hung up about the weather...something else to work through in my life.