I spent a glorious weekend down in west Wales, where the weather had apparently mistaken Pembrokeshire for the Mediterranean.
The beaches were packed tighter than a rugby clubhouse on Six Nations day, with families, paddleboarders, inflatable flamingos and enough Factor 50 to waterproof the entire coastline.
Everyone seemed determined to charge into the sea as if it was a giant heated swimming pool.
Unfortunately, the Irish Sea hadn’t received the memo.
While enjoying an ice cream that melted faster than a politician’s promise, I overheard an elderly couple discussing Britain’s most underrated trickster, the tide.
“People don’t realise how quickly it sneaks up on them,” the gentleman said.
“One minute you’re collecting shells, the next you’re starring in your own rescue drama.”
His wife nodded knowingly. “Hundreds get caught out every year. The tide doesn’t send a warning text.”
They had a point.
Every year, visitors underestimate tidal times and strong currents, with tragic consequences. The sea is beautiful, but it doesn’t negotiate.
The conversation then drifted onto another worrying subject: swimming.
The couple lamented how many local leisure centres with swimming pools have disappeared over the past decade.
Those that remain often charge prices that make you wonder whether you’re paying for swimming lessons or a Caribbean cruise.
When I was a young lad, learning to swim was almost a rite of passage.
Today, far too many youngsters never get the chance to become confident swimmers.
That’s not just unfortunate, it’s dangerous.
So, while the Welsh sunshine continues pretending it’s the Costa del Sol, perhaps we should remember that our coastline still plays by British rules. Check the tide times. Respect the currents. Learn to swim if you can.
After all, the only thing that should be swept away this summer is your stress, not you.