A window table, please…

When I had my restaurants, it never ceased to amaze me how much people fought over our window tables. All our restaurants had a few windows overlooking water. At Seaton Carew, it was the sea but at the others, it was a view of the Marina.

Everyone insisted on a window table when they booked or when they entered a restaurant.

I always asked myself whether they would notice if we served them the wrong order while they gazed out of the window.

I felt like asking them: “Do you want it in case of fire? Do you want to do a runner?”

Whenever I go past the old people’s home along the Front, there is always someone at one of the windows, vacantly looking out to sea.

I really think the appeal might stem from memories of lovely days out or holidays spent by the seaside.

There is nothing like a walk and an alfresco meal by the water’s edge. A river, a lake, a beach.

Mind you, when we lived above the first restaurant, I sat directly opposite our bay window often gazing at the sea. I used the leaded squares to frame a passing ship against the horizon and watch it glide from one frame to the next.

Most of my bike rides take me to the Headland, past the Marina and all the way along Seaton Beach. Mainly because they are flat rides, to be honest.

At the beginning of February, when storm Darcy hit the North East coast, as it was impossible to get out on the bike, I took a walk on the Headland, past the breakwater. One step forward and two steps back. I managed to take a couple of videos with my phone. I then edited them on the phone and added some stock music.

The latter part of the month brought some beautiful and welcome sunshine when the seaside took on a very different outlook. The start of Spring, dare we hope?