@Cb – I want to hit the sea shore in the UK at some point – I saw some gorgeous photo of a little seaside town on Instagram once. So it’s on the list!

Oh I love that tradition – and amazing to see your family evolve within the same place. We live in East Lothian so I never feel like going further north to the seaside is worth it, when we have such lovely seaside here, but maybe we should do a bit more exploring. We went to Whitley Bay this summer, which was GORGEOUS. I wasn’t expecting much, but the beaches were lovely and wonderful little shops and cafes. Next time we’ll bring bikes.
I need sunshine at Christmas if I’m to survive a Scottish January/February, so we decamp to the grandparents in Lisbon for the holidays. Santa knows where to find us 🙂

We’ve been to the same seaside cottage in Scotland 12 times so far as a family – thirteenth trip booked for 30th December to 9th January 2023 so including a Scottish Hogmanay. It is 10 hours or so drive including two ferries from us so an all day trip but a magical place full of memories. My rule for dealing with the British weather is to try not to think about it, as you never have any idea what it will be like! Four (or maybe only three to be fair) seasons in a day! We have had glorious mild sunny weather there on New Year’s Eve, snow and frost at Easter, gales and huge waves in the autumn, although as of now, never a heatwave I have to admit! We first went when older duaghter was 3, this time she will be 22 and her partner is coming with her for the week, so a step change there. Maybe one day we will holiday there with grandchildren too.

@Elisabeth – thank you! It was a good week – a trip that doesn’t wind up balancing anxiety with fun. Going to the beach and staying in a house is mostly fun!