'Sunshine All the Way' by Louise McClean

 When I was a child, during the war, every August my gran, my mother and I spent a week at Portrush, a seaside town on the north coast of Ireland. This week was the happiest time of my life and the highlight of my year. It was always eagerly anticipated and never disappointed.
We went to Portrush by steam train which, as we neared our destination, ran right along the beach on one side and was bound by steep cliffs on the other - wonderful. By then I was beside myself with excitement.
Each year we stayed at the same boarding house in 20 Mark Street owned by a friend of my gran’s called Mrs. Black. It was in the centre of a row of identical houses with two bay windows at the front and on a height overlooking the harbour and a short walk from the station.
On the ground floor was the kitchen (strictly out of bounds to the guests) the dining room and a sitting room. This was furnished with two leatherette settees and several easy chairs all facing the bay window with the lovely view of the beach. The lino on the floor had a few little rugs scattered over it
It was a tall narrow house on three floors. There were six bedrooms; four double and two single. We were always on the second floor with my mother and I sharing a room and, further along the narrow corridor, my gran had her single room. There was one bathroom which was shared by everyone. I presume the top floor was much the same but I was never allowed to go up there to find out!
As it was during the war and rationing was still in force, we took our ration books with us and handed them over to Mrs. Black for the week. We had full board and I seem to remember the food was plain but wholesome with stew, shepherd’s pie, sausages and salads with Spam on the menu. Porridge was the norm for breakfast, with toast.
We spent out time on holiday walking along the prom, watching the boats in the harbour or sitting in a shelter on Ramore Head with the huge waves breaking on the cliffs below. Every year I had a ride on the donkeys and a highlight was a visit to Barry’s amusement park with it’s waltzer cars and the very scary ghost train!
There were two beaches, called strands in Ireland, one on either side of the headland and the white sand stretched for miles on each one. As this was on the Atlantic, the huge waves crashes continuously onto the sand but the water was always freezing so I usually just paddled with my skirt tucked into my knickers.
In the summer, during the war, there was double summer time which meant the clocks were put forward two hours instead of one and so it was daylight till about 11 o’clock at night which was great. Every evening, along the prom, there were evangelists who attempted to save our souls. They shouted a lot and prayed fervently for the sinners and were great fun to watch! I loved the hymn singing which was accompanied by an accordian player and we all wrapped up well and sang our hearts out as we sat on the hard benches. We never did get saved however!
Further along the road from Portrush is the very famous Giant’s Causeway with it’s fantastic hexagonal stones and pillars. A tram used to run to the Causeway from Portrush and we visited every year. It was very popular with visitors, especially the children who loved to jump from stone to stone trying to avoid slipping into the sea in between. Sadly the tram is no more.
Portrush had all the usual shops selling buckets and spaded, beach balls and rubber rings for those brave enough to enter the freezing water. There was one lovely department store called The White House which my mum and gran loved so we spent quite a lot of time in there -- not buying, you understand, just admiring!
We were on holiday in Portrush on VJ Day and there was great excitement with dancing and singing on the streets and rejoicing all around. Personally I was thrilled as this meant my dad would be coming home at last. I remember being persuaded to sing Lily Marlene for the other guests!
As an adult I have travelled extensively and enjoyed wonderful holidays all over the world, but somehow nothing has ever matched the joy and excitement and pure happiness of those weeks spent in Portrush with my gran and mum. I suppose it must have rained some of the time , but if it did, then I don’t remember it - it was sunshine all the way, every day for me.