Why is the sea so far away?

The weather in Britain is wonderful at the moment. Sunshine makes me and everyone around me happy. But I am missing the sea/seaside terribly. Although, admittedly it’s only been just over a month since I was by the sea (North Devon)…

When you go from three years living walking distance from the beach and the harbour back to the middle of England, it really is quite rubbish. Don’t get me wrong, I love the countryside – working in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside is really great – and I love woods – I love trees, of course I would [wood]. But there’s just something about the sea. The smell, the sound, the feel…

I’ve been trying to work out where the nearest coast/beach to Milton Keynes is. I always assumed it was Hunstanton in Norfolk, but if you take into account the time it takes to get there and types of roads it might be easier to go somewhere south. Either way, it’s nearly 100 miles – by road, rather than as the crow flies.

That’s pretty far from the sea but by no means the furthest place in Britain from the coast. After a little Googling, BBC News tells me that in 2003 the village of Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, was confirmed the furthest point in Britain from the sea. Although this discussion mentions Aylesbury, Tring and Leicester among other places. All of which, the first two especially, are pretty close to Milton Keynes.

I might run away to the seaside, any seaside, this weekend. But if I don’t, I’m going to Brighton the weekend after so I should survive.

Campbell Park on a sunny day

So it turns out Milton Keynes isn't all that bad. It might not have a beach or be anywhere near the sea but it does have a beautiful park within half an hour from my house. Sitting under a tree in the relative tranquility (there was some grass cutting going on) and reading was lovely.

Obligatory tree photos.

Is that countryside?

Odd pyramid.

Sitting under a tree.

There used to be elephant statues…

Patch of sand = beach?

A picture of MK Gallery, just because it looks awesome.

In other news, I will start volunteering at Oxfam next Thursday which I'm actually pretty excited about. Also, I'm almost all packed for Leopallooza Festival in Bude, Cornwall, this weekend. Very much looking forward to that and for the sea swim that will be happening afterwards on Sunday. Three weeks away from the seaside is a long time for a sea swimmer!

More of this please

We've had quite a few lovely days in the last week in Falmouth. Of course some of those were spent inside printing, spray mounting work and generally finishing everything for Friday's deadline. But now that university is well and truly over (at least work-wise) we can actually enjoy the sunshine without worrying that we should be doing something else! It's a good feeling.

C

http://graphiceverywhere.tumblr.com/

It was very tempting to go in the sea today. But I went to the beach straight from uni, after a very successful learning team*, and therefore had unsuitable attire, plus no towel. I will make it in past my knees before the end of term.

*a learning team consists of one tutor and eight students. We discuss our own projects, recieve feedback and ideas. It's useful to reassure you that you're doing the right thing and that your work is good enough.

Summer type

These posters from the Typography Cocktail series, here, sum up the weather at the moment. It's beautiful in Falmouth. But the sun is deadly, I have extremely burnt feet from sitting at the beach yesterday afternoon.

I was also writing in the sand with the handle end of my fishing net (meant for catching crabs, but the tide was in so far that there were no rock pools), which reminds me of this:

When I carved 'freedom' in the sand near St Micheal's Mount,

about two years ago, and watched as the sea washed it away.