Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea is on the Thames Estuary in Essex about 35 miles from London and is east London's favourite place for a day-trip to the sea. I went there yesterday, with my daughter Ruth and her twins Jacob & Zack, to the Adventure Island playground. The boys were ecstatic and had a great time although they spent much of the time walking around with their hands over their ears because they didn't like the noise which was mostly generated by the screams of teenaged girls on the roller-coaster.

They are very well-behaved boys and always say "please", "thank you" and "you're welcome" but kids don't get that way naturally so it's credit to Ruth. They had terrific fun on the rides and were fascinated by the dodgem cars and go-karts. We all went in the Crooked House which has passages with sloping floors so that you find yourself falling against the walls. Before coming home we visited Rossi's ice-cream shop and sat looking out to sea and spotting the ships.

For me, it was paradise to spend a day with my daughter and grandsons and when Zack said, unpromted, "I love you Grandad" my day was complete!