Why I Love Beachcombing

By Louise Pool
I live right next to the beach. (Yes, this is the post designed to inspire envy amongst all you inland folks.)

All that separates me from the seaboard is a not too busy "main" road, so on most days I can be found wandering the shoreline at some point during the day. Once in a blue moon (I'm aiming for more often) I'll be out at 6 am, walking briskly alongside the beach before stopping to watch the sunrise. Mostly, though, I venture out towards the evening to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes: beachcombing.

WW: Lonely Tourism Cop at Anse Major

Lonely Tourism Police at Anse Major

This poor guy must be bored... unlike his colleages at Beauvallon.

A mini holiday at home

Living near the beach in a holiday resort, I often pretend I'm a tourist and go on a mini holiday. I usually take a book with me, some sun tan oil (which I never use otherwise), a colourful pareo and go plonk myself in one of the sunloungers at a hotel. It's lovely to while away the afternoon sipping (sometimes laced) coconut water and going for occasional dips to cool off. The people I meet invariably think I'm on holiday as well and I've struck up some really good conversations and met many interesting people from all walks of life.

WW: Anse Louis rock formation, Mahe, Seychelles

Anse Louis, Mahe, Seychelles

Why don't we have a beach shack at Beauvallon?

Blanchard's Beach Shack in Anguilla

We have a couple of take away stands, mainly on the weekends. We have a few restaurants. We have some hotels and a new "architectural masterpiece" is being foisted upon us.

What we don't have is a cool beach shack.

The dogs ate my blog...

Yes, it's been years and I don't have a decent excuse.

Of course I've been busy, but who isn't?
Of course I've been employed, but how many are?
Of course I have a family, but how many others do?
Of course I (fill in the blank), but (fill in the blank)?

So, in lieu of a decent excuse: the dogs ate my blog.

A Seychellois Definition of Antique

Many might know that the Seychelles have been populated since the end of the 18th century. And craftsmen built some beautiful furniture in those days. Not much of it is around anymore (and the few items that are, are firmly in the hands of the families who originally commissioned them), so I was really excited to see an ad on Seybay boldly entitled "Antique Furniture". Fingers trembling with excitement, I clicked on the advertisement.