Page 13 | Are YOU a performance beach goer?

takemetomars · 06/08/2021 17:47

@keiratwiceknightly

At the beach yesterday. So many families arrived with bags and bags of stuff - some even with festival trolleys. Shelter up, double rugs on sand, windbreak, chairs, elaborate picnic. Kids into sun suits, then sun cream rubbed into all exposed bits approx every 10 mins.

40 min set up. Sit for an hour. Then dismantle and clear off.

Great spectator sport.

Bar the festival trollied and the frequent application of sun screen, this is how we set up at the beach in the 70s. Windbreak, loungers etc. Just like every other family. Hut we stayed for hours

LifesTooShortForYourNonsense · 06/08/2021 17:53

I don’t understand it either, op. It doesn’t seem an enjoyable way to spend your time. If we go to the beach, tend to go spring or autumn and walk - and enjoy the space, that needs little equipment! Summer we go woods, lakes, moors etc.

Middersweekly · 06/08/2021 18:32

No…we live near the beach and go most weeks in the summer. I usually have my little folding chair in the car already and I take a blanket and a few snacks and drinks. We do have an umbrella which we sometimes bring (it’s very hot here) but of DH doesn’t come I don’t bring it as it’s a faff lol!

Jacsxx · 06/08/2021 18:35

We live near the beach and have one rucksack for our trips, fits one bucket and spade, large beach sheet that sand goes thro, small beach tent, sun cream, inflatable ring, bats n ball and microfiber towels. is all we need for a few hours beach time. Used to take the world but half the crap we lugged there never got used so cut it right back

Carpedimum · 06/08/2021 18:44

I love setting up a camp on the beach! Windbreakers, blankets, a big flag, a tarp in case it rains to shelter beneath. This is for a whole day into evening event though. We’ve taken a portable bbq that we’ve used a couple of times too. If there’s a crowd of you, it seems like more of an occasion to make the effort, and of course many hands…

Wills · 06/08/2021 20:45

Oh, disappointed! I've seen performance parenting on another level, although it could also be classified as performing full stop. Went to a French aquasite i.e slides etc. Unfortunately, for me, the family in question were British. Whenever he thought anyone was looking in his direction he'd immediately do squats/lunges/pushups. What I loved was that even his kids were bored of his blatant attempts to get someone to look at him! Prior to him having a family I'd have said small man syndrome.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 06/08/2021 20:54

How is putting sun cream on your kids ‘performance’ get a life.

CauliflowerBalti · 06/08/2021 21:08

I really want a festival trolley. We’re a family of three and tend to take a rucksack with books and jumpers, 3 beach chairs, a bag for life of towels/drinks/sunscreen, a 2nd bag of beach toys (buckets, ball, frisbee), a bag of wetsuits, 2 spades and a bodyboard. And the dog. We stay for about 3 hours. I can’t fathom why you’d laugh at people just doing their thing - but if sniffing at other folks is what butters your bread, whatever.

Mollymoostoo · 06/08/2021 23:23

Two fold up chairs, bottle of wine and 2 plastic glasses. What more could we need?

Michellelovesizzy · 07/08/2021 00:26

Always seem to have loads of crap with me but 4get important things like sun cream and water. Then spend ages lookin 4 a shop.

Michellelovesizzy · 07/08/2021 00:28

I am alway jealous of well organised people a department I just lack in 😂

Auntienumber8 · 07/08/2021 01:02

I grew up in a house that was a five minute walk and three minute run to the beach so used to just run down in my costume and only bother with a towel if it was cold. I remember swimming in the sea and it started snowing, myself and my sister got told off for that :)

My family now take a towel each, water and sun cream plus a bucket and spade and then a dinner knife and ruler because DH and DS make rather elaborate sandcastles. I attach a photo of one.

Anniemas · 07/08/2021 01:15

Rather smugly thought that having a beach hut meant I'd never have to carry anything ever again. Wrong! DS goes home with stuff meant to be left in hut, including body board, ball, shorts, towel, beach shoes. I end up laden with his shit and wondering why the fuck we pay for the hut 😎😍😎😍😎😍

liveforsummer · 07/08/2021 07:42

@Mollymoostoo

Two fold up chairs, bottle of wine and 2 plastic glasses. What more could we need?

I assume you go without dc, there's nothing on that list to afford yourself the time to drink said wine in peace without kids whining they are bored or cold 😆

liveforsummer · 07/08/2021 07:45

@Wills

Oh, disappointed! I've seen performance parenting on another level, although it could also be classified as performing full stop. Went to a French aquasite i.e slides etc. Unfortunately, for me, the family in question were British. Whenever he thought anyone was looking in his direction he'd immediately do squats/lunges/pushups. What I loved was that even his kids were bored of his blatant attempts to get someone to look at him! Prior to him having a family I'd have said small man syndrome.

I feel like I know this family. There's frequently one in every resort 😆. Did he have an extra loud voice when playing with dc and proudly and loudly win the ball games every time despite playing against 6 year olds? Spend time tipping them off lilos etc?

JustABloodyMinute · 07/08/2021 10:09

I am bemused when I see people with so much stuff. We get to the beach by train so only take what we can carry. Towels, swimming costumes, suncream, food/drink, buckets/spades, money for ice cream. Tends to be enough for a day on the beach.

eightyfourandahalf · 07/08/2021 10:48

@Michellelovesizzy

I am alway jealous of well organised people a department I just lack in 😂

I am jealous of people who can just walk straight on the beach!

It's easy when you book a holiday with beach access to stroll with a towel and a couple of spades, when you are 1 hour drive away at least, kids need shade, shelter, spare clothes, toys and books, food, drink.
No point taking them to the beach if they are bored after 1 hour

Kanaloa · 07/08/2021 11:30

Yes, we bring all the right stuff (suits, sun cream, toys) when we go to the beach. We also bring our own picnic as we live in a seaside tourist town and it’s too expensive to buy chips, sandwiches, drinks etc if you’re at the beach every weekend! It’s more fun when you bring everything you need, I wouldn’t fancy just showing up and sitting on the sand, nothing to do or play with and no proper provision for the kids sun protection.

Wills · 07/08/2021 12:37

liveforsummer

Spot on!!

TSSDNCOP · 07/08/2021 12:48

I have a festival trolley. It is one of the best things I have ever bought. No more arguing about who carries what. Into the trolley and roll! Add smug swagger as needed

Dilligaf81 · 07/08/2021 13:07

Mmmm so beibg prepared for the environment your going to is performance parenting?
You sound jealous tbh.
We have our beach set up all packed and ready so a shopping trolley packed with buckets, spades, picnic blankets and boules then the wind break, body boards, 2 chairs and uv tent are next to the trolley.
Plus the kettle bag with the tea bags and mugs, I hate crappy tea for a beach day.
All of this is essential for an enjoyable day at the beach, there are 6 of us one of whom burns in seconds so can't even leave the tent now they are older.
I imagine people have packed for a day at the beach but then the reality of kids who don't love it as much of them has made them leave early.

Backwaterjunction · 07/08/2021 17:32

If it doesn’t fit in a 20 ltr (small) rucksack then it doesn’t go.

Saw some relative photos of their afternoon picnic, I really didn’t know whether to laugh or be revolted (a lot of both really) at the amount of stuff, tables, chairs, towels, windbreaks. So many game, bikes. I would take that much going for the week, we’re are the days where someone took a football or crickets set and families that didn’t know each other just decided to have an impromptu game, revolting

mafted · 07/08/2021 17:50

What's with all these children getting bored at the beach?

suzy2b · 07/08/2021 20:29

When my kids were young we booked a beach hut for the whole 6 weeks so we didn't need to carry every thing every day ir,beach hut had chairs ,now I have to carry a chair as have a bad back and can't sit without something against my back ,thought about one of those trolleys but a bit expensive

StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon · 07/08/2021 20:41

Cream up before we leave but have towels and other bits with us along with a pop up beach tent. We live a five min walk from beach so head down, open tent, strip off and zip up tent then straight in for a swim.