When the children were younger we had a caravan which we used to put on a site at Ainsdale for a couple of months every Summer. We would go for weekends, relations used it, we had the odd week there etc. In the evenings we often drove along the beach to Southport and went to Pleasureland. It was quite good and a lot cheaper than Blackpool Pleasure Beach but even then, 20 years ago, it was beginning to look a bit seedy. It didn't matter, though, it was all part of the fun.
Now, the caravan site (which was a very good one next to the dunes and with electric hook-ups, an on-site pub, etc.) has gone (derelict) and so has the good weather we mostly had. The climate seems to have got a lot wetter and it doesn't encourage people to spend time at the English sea-side. They messed up Southport beach, too, when they dug out and sold tons and tons of sand and left mud-flats. Southport spoiled it's own best amenity.
Never liked Morecambe - I think it's a dreary place, sorry Willow - and all my in-laws from Bradford.
