Simple pleasures

It was a nice day on Thursday so I took Smallest Granddaughter to Lauriston Castle, which has pleasant grounds to walk in, including a Japanese garden with a little island reached by stepping stones, which children always love. 

We were there for quite a long time,

which was fine, because the aims were 1) for her to have fun and fresh air and 2) to give her mum, who was working upstairs at home, peace to concentrate. Also, I don't like to spend the whole day in the house. I like fresh air too. It was my mantra when our own children were small - "Come on - fresh air and exercise." I was also somewhat notorious for taking them for wet walks, if that was the only possibility. I still like wet walks as long as I have an umbrella. Which is just as well, considering the weather we've been having lately. 

She swooshed branches in the water and spread the droplets around. 

She climbed trees. 

And when we got home, we sat in the garden for a bit. It's been so wet that even this was a treat. 

And then yesterday we went to the beach and ploutered around. Here she is scooping up dogs' footprints and scattering them. There were lots; dog owners like to walk their pooches on the beach. I quite like dogs individually, but there are so many of them since lockdown, often in slightly alarming packs overseen (sort of) by professional dog walkers. Fortunately Smallest Granddaughter doesn't seem to be frightened of them. 

She soon took off her boots and socks to paddle, and to throw stones and handfuls of wet sand into the sea. 

Simple pleasures.

But now they've gone back to London, alas. Which is more restful, but sadder.