My little bit of heaven

This beach has been my friend for a long time. It is part of who I am. It is the one thing that I am going to miss when I move away because I can’t take it with me. Unlike my friends I can’t phone it up for a chat, meet it for a drink, or talk to it online.

I spend a lot of time here, come rain or shine I like to pad along the shore, listening to the waves beating against the wall, and watching the people who share this precious place.

Its home to the little yacht club and the adventurous souls who drag their boats into the cold water. Its home to the waggly tailed dogs and the children who build castles on the sands. The grannies who sit on the benches eating their 99’s and reminiscing about the past. Home to the flat with the balcony that I want when I’m old, and home to the big stone seals in the play park at the end.

I’ve shared it with giggling nieces and nephews as we raced to be first on the swings, with friends who needed a shoulder to cry on and with boyfriends who were playing the old romance card.

I’ve shared both heart breaking and happy times with this beach. It's helped me grieve for those I've lost and I've found a lot of answers here. Sometimes I don’t think at all, I just walk and breathe the air and listen to the sea. On a clear day you can see the sleeping soldier that is Arran or look down the coast to Troon or Turnberry.

It’s beautiful and it keeps me calm when life is a bit mad. It’s peaceful and it’s precious and I love it.

I’m moving to the Big City. I’m leaving the seaside for Glasgow after all these years. This move is a change of my own making, a change that I want and a change that means no more commuting, a better social life and better opportunities for work. I have a whole list of things I want to do and in my head my bags are already packed, I’m in the removal van and I’m half way up the motorway.

My flat has been painted an anonymous shade of magnolia, its personality removed so viewers can imagine living here. I stopped "living" here when I ran my business from my kitchen and my home became my office. I can't wait to have a home again, a real proper home to fill with my friends and laughter and happiness.

I am more than ready to move on, but I am so going to miss the beach and can’t help feeling a little sentimental at leaving it behind.

It's not the best photo, and I prefer it when the tide is in but I thought I'd share my little bit of heaven. You should try it out sometime, breathe deeply, walk slowly and you might just be touched by it's magic.