As the day begins the tepid sun, bright and boisterous, unveils himself from behind the blinding

blue skies.

Emerald green waves crash against a crumbling rock, birds dart in and out of the water. The whooshing sounds calm the
wailing babies. Whoosh! From a bird’s eye view the people look like ants.

Gradually, the hustle and bustle on the beach slows down. The masses begin to settle and prepare for the day. Parents eye
up what they have: fluffy towels; rickety chairs; oversized picnic bags; sparkly new buckets and spades; gooey sun cream;
floppy hats and scratched sunglasses.

Carefully, the parents cover their impatient children. Without hesitation, they flee in all directions squealing like pigs.
Gleefully creating master pieces, they attack the sand. The small footprints of children can now be seen, a trail left behind as
they hop, struggling to keep their feet off the dry, scorching sand. Occasionally, children run back to their parents
demanding ice-creams.

One little girl looks rather confused as she sweeps her chaotic dirty blonde fringe out of her hazel eyes. The chubby little
madam of about three is having a silent battle of wills with her haphazardly made sandcastle which resembles a mud pie
with a green flag fluttering feebly on top. Her patchy purple face is screwed up in frustration as the tide claims the west wing
of her muddy masterpiece. Her pink swimming costume is adorned with glittering sea creatures; amongst them is a scarlet
starfish with an enormous grin on its triangular face. The child's legs look as if they're made from pink plasticine and they
curl around her transparent bucket under which you see the crippled crab; it is taking its final breath!

Eyeing her with a motherly stare, a slim and attractive woman in her thirties is wearing a maternity maxi dress that elegantly
drapes across her swollen stomach; her hand shades her eyes as she looks at her daughter with a mixture of concern and
amusement. In her other hand is the latest Blackberry phone; she taps impatiently at it with perfectly manicured nails.

Beside the young family, a rotund middle aged man is slumbering peacefully in the shade of an ice cream van. He snores.

As the day draws colder the sun, tired and weary, buries its soft fuzzy head in the blue blanket of the darkening horizon.

Finally, the parents gather their belongings and head back. Exhausted.