Clacton-on-Sea

I walked along the pier, past the fairground and the colourful helter skelter, to the end of the pier, where the fishermen stood, and then turned around, back again, past the tree with a face and the waltzers.


A starfish washed up on the shore.

The music from the pier was so loud I could barely hear the sea.

Jaywick
A mish-mash of houses, many that were once holiday homes, and were seen as temporary. A martello tower, which I climbed, and inside were portraits of people who live in Jaywick and messages from children written on balloons, on paper boats, on postcards.

Brightlingsea
Home of the Smack Preservation Society. Also, a limb of Sandwich.

Colchester
In Colchester in June, people will attempt to set the world record for the most people playing hopscotch in the same place, at the same time.