Southend-On-Sea

Southend on Sea is about 30 miles east of London in the UK, and on the Thames Estary (which leads out to the North Sea). The town is known for being a 'Londoner's' day out, and the in-famous street racers by young men showing off to their girls in clap out cars on the seafront on a Saturday night! A took Olga, my partner down to Southend on a bright warm sunny afternoon just to get out of the house for a few hours, and to soak up the sun's rays and breathe in the sea air.

After having a late lunch on a seafront cafe of traditional fish and chips and a nice glass of smooth strawberry milkshake, we took to the pier. Southend pier is the longest pier in the world, and is over 2km long. We paid £3 each to enter the pier which includes a one way journey on the train and walk back.

So taking the train, we slowly passed the beach and headed out to sea on this slow old fashioned train, with the sounds of clunking on the way. We arrived at the other end about ten minutes later (seems likes ten minutes).

Unfortunaley the pier which used to have an amusement park, a punch and judy show and a few refreshment stands, at the end of the pier, the place caught fire and everything was destroyed about two-three years ago, and the place is under refreshbment by the local council, and hopes to be restored and reopened in the next few months, or latest, 2010. We walked passed it, nothing to see, just men in yellow shirts repairing the pier. We looked out to sea, across the estary, to see the coastline of northern Kent, the county over the water, with tall chimmey's from the Isle of Sheppy. It wasn't a nice sight.

Walking back along the pier took a while, as the wind were quite strong, and seeing seagulls getting blowen about, as they couldn't control their flight in the air! The pier was empty despite the sun, and a few fishermen were sitting behind walls and the shelters, to keep out of the wind. After the pier, we wanted to look around Adventure Island, but the place was closed (just after 6pm) so it was time to go home. Oh well, that was our afternoon out. :)