to feel just a liiiiiiitle bit smug?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

We have holidayed in the UK for ages. Odd one in France but generally North Wales or the South Coast.

Go to the beach today and get sneery looks from certain groups, who were also being similarly sneery to others who were like us. Our crime? We came with a full beach set up. Pop up tent (most important!) picnic, towels, more towels, waterproof jackets and a few blankets. Yes it took some carrying (about the only thing I have found I hate about single parenting is that its all on me to carry it all!) but when the heavens opened, we went into our tent and waited it out, then when the shower had passed, out we came again. Whereas the "One bag with swim suits and a towel" mob were all in a mass panic and trying to find some shelter.

Holidays in the UK require more prep than getting your bikini on and popping to the pool! I rather suspect that there will be a lot more pop up tents on the beach tomorrow than the 4 I saw today!

Oh and yes....the seagulls will take your food out of your hands, thats why there are signs EVERYWHERE saying that its advisable not to each out in the open as the seagulls are aggressive. I saw a father read one sign, say it was probably an exagerration and then have to comfort his terrified child who had his sandwich nicked.

So yes, I do feel a tiny bit smug.

Imagine caring so much what other people think or are doing.

You, I mean. Not the “sneerers” A thread to say you’re smug! It’s so MN it hurts!

We were in Dorset last week, loads of families with tents on the beach, more than I've seen before.

Everyday I saw at least one burger, battered fish or sandwich swiped from someones hand. Like you say, signs everywhere! Hilarious people watching.

I just don’t go to the beach if it’s going to rain. Works for me 🤷‍♀️

If you want to take lots of stuff to the beach OP then that’s fine. If others want to travel light and move fast, that’s also fine.

You prepped and it paid off. It does take a lot of energy to make this holiday magic happen, especially when you don't have another adult in the mix. Well done OP.

@ChaosTrulyReigns

You've been unutterably smugger with one of those trolley thingumies.

I look at them with great big . But every time I remember I need one, they're sold out.

I'm searching for one too, would be the icing on the cake. Love having the stuff together to be able to enjoy a good full day out, despite our unpredictable weather

Fuck me why feel smug ever?
You're a staycation snob 😂

Can’t say I’ve ever felt smug but I did always hit the beach with a massive pop up tent from Australia and picnic/cool bag,blankets etc! Tbh my bestie took the mic out of us as we looked like we had set up camp on the beach! Now my youngest is 14 I miss those days

Get a life. Nobody cares what other people take to the beach

Enjoy your smugness op , I get where you’re coming from.

Wow you sound like a knob.

I hate the word ‘sneer’. It reminds me of the Brexit wars where if you dared to say you thought it wasn’t a great idea, no matter how mildly, earned more than £20k a year and lived in London you were practically covered in spittle and accused of ‘sneering’ at ‘the people’.

Back on topic. OP, your insecurities are showing. Nobody was sneering at you for having a tent.

This thread is also not a good advert for U.K. holidays. I don’t want to have to lug that much stuff about to sit at the beach for a bit just in case it starts to piss down or blow a gale. Sounds stressful rather than relaxing.

I see your tent and raise you one cottage.

On seaside holidays in the UK, we always try to stay within 10 minutes walk of the beach. If it rains, we go home, put the kettle on and watch TV until the rain stops. Then come back out again.

Though I must admit, from reading some of these posts I'm increasingly confused about the difference between a UK holiday and a wilderness preparedness exercise. The kit list seems to be the same for both .

Felt beach smug for the first time this year. Wi d breaker, sand blanket, chairs, umbrella beach games, picnic box blankets, boden towel jumpers. Lush spent most days everyday on the beach without an ipad in sight for the kids. Loved it. No sneering looks but still I felt like the beach queen and am hooked now. Much better than childhood memories of days at the beach

Excellent level of adulting there 😊🤣 xxx

Any time I'm on a beach I'm too busy applying suncream/swimming/reading to worry about what other people do. If you're going in the sea anyway, a bit of rain won't matter.

No-one cares what strangers take to the beach.

@FangsForTheMemory

Any time I'm on a beach I'm too busy applying suncream/swimming/reading to worry about what other people do. If you're going in the sea anyway, a bit of rain won't matter.

Suncream and swimming? In the Uk?

@RedRec

No-one cares what strangers take to the beach.

Unless it is a dead body

@RedRec

No-one cares what strangers take to the beach.

Unless it impacts their view or impacts their enjoyment of the beach

We live in a seaside resort and luckily weather has been glorious when we go the beach but my husband and I are wanting a proper beach set up like you. You just need one of those festival trollies so you can take all your stuff 😁

@godmum56

there was a sneery thread on here a few days ago about the sensible folk who prepped for their beach day

Exactly what I was thinking. Seems both sides are sneering at each other!

@ssd

Don't really blame you feeling smug *@PyongyangKipperbang*

Whats annoying me is all the talks of staycations

That's what skint families have been doing for years

Not skint thanks, just love the UK.

You sound completely ridiculous and petty.

You should see the Spanish at the beach; beach chairs, foldout table for lunch, trolley with ice box filled with a full spread for lunch and the 11am snack, drinks, ice etc, inflatables, snorkelling gear, parasols and some even bring a tiny paddling pool for the kids 😂 Can you imagine turning up to a British beach like that!