How I overcame my dread of the all-Australian beach holiday

When I was a small boy, the thought of going to the beach didn’t excite me. I dreaded it. If I had six weeks of summer break from school and one of them was spent at the coast, I felt shortchanged.

One fondly remembered beach holiday as a boy: the author, Peter Papathanasiou, right, with his cousin Matt. At Batemans Bay, we always stayed at my uncle’s house. He was a friendly bloke who liked to go fishing and boating with my dad and play backgammon and poker. But my uncle was also an alcoholic, and his tiny house became neglected after his wife died one Christmas Eve. It became depressing to go there. To this day, Mum can’t watchThe beach itself was a lonely experience for me.

The beach was where so many families flocked for vacations. Rental cabins and beach houses, campsites and retro-caravans and pimped-out campervans were all now available. Or there were serene houseboats for nearby rivers. My sons needed to see the ocean, to splash and stumble, to make misshapen sandcastles and collect fragile shells. And I wanted to be there to share those experiences. Somehow, I needed to let go of my past.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

‘Happy to let it hang out’: budgie smugglers are back on Australian beachesAustralian men have their reasons for pulling these tight togs back on. For some it’s irony; for others, pride. But for many it is simply a matter of comfort Slow news day. They are called budgie smugglers for a reason, which is, the wearers only have small appendages If you're after the Honey Badger's opinion on pot, it would be, 'Silicone.' But, the recent update on the book of Genesis maybe that that many souls have disappeared in the wardrobe which would be, 'Windows.'
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

World No.1 drops Australian Open bombshellThe US Open winner took to social media to announce the devastating news. 9News AusOpen AO2023 nbnnews Will miss your intense game at AO. Get well soon mate.
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »

Carlos Alcaraz will miss Australian Open after suffering leg injury in trainingThe men’s world No 1, Carlos Alcaraz, has announced he will miss the Australian Open because of a leg injury picked up in training
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

'It's tough': World number one Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the Australian OpenTeenage superstar Carlos Alcaraz announces he will miss the Australian Open due to a leg injury. Who? Who
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

World No.1 drops Australian Open bombshellThe world No. 1 is OUT of the Australian Open! 😟🎾 📖 DETAILS: 9WWOS Tennis
Source: wwos - 🏆 12. / 68 Read more »

World No.1 drops Australian Open bombshellHis defence of his No.1️⃣ ranking at Grand Slams will have to wait. 👇 9WWOS AusOpen
Source: wwos - 🏆 12. / 68 Read more »