Lost in France in the Fifties

Ten things I remember of my first foreign holiday

1.  Lost on the beach in Le Touquet.

Imagine the fright wandering back from the sea 

to the tent that you thought your parents were, 

only to find they've disappeared.

The rows of tents all looked the same.

I stayed calm, knowing they were there somewhere.

My bravery held until going up to a couple and saying

'I've lost my mummy and daddy'

they started speaking to me in a language I didn't understand.

The full enormity of it suddenly hit me, I started to cry.

I was taken to the lost property post (lifeguard station)

where fortunately someone could speak English.

It wasn't long before our little family were back together again.

2. Can you imagine,the shame of having to wear my vest under my cossie?  
Worse than that, it was knitted!

Warm admittedly!

3.  Hearing for the very first time as we walked along the prom

the expression...

Red sky at night, shepherds' delight.

Red sky in the morning, shepherds' warning.

Funny the things you remember.

4.  Staying at this hotel and seeing for the first time

the amazing sight of seeing someone eat a

globe artichoke with vinaigrette dressing.

5. Wondrous  French butter on a freshly baked baguette

the taste of which I can still recall.  It haunts me to this day.

I've never tasted the like since.

    

6.  Exploring in Paris with my father,

leaving my mother behind in the hotel with a headache.

She must have been twenty nine, in the prime of life.

With just nineteen years left to live, should we have known

and sort help for her sooner?

7.  Me feeling cheated that my dad only took me to the first level 

of the Eiffel tower...

 I wanted to go to the top, you would wouldn't you?

The higher you went the more money it cost, 

 now with hindsight I understand why!

8.  We did go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
Happy at last. 

9.  Seeing the Mona Lisa and being singularly unimpressed.

10.  A rough crossing coming home; feeling fine until I saw

everyone being sick...

then you've guessed it, so was I!